Stewart, Garteig assigned to Kalamazoo ahead of preseason

KALAMAZOO, MI— The Vancouver Canucks have re-assigned defenseman Mackenze Stewart and the Utica Comets have assigned goaltender Michael Garteig to the Kalamazoo Wings, the team announced Thursday.

Stewart, 22, is a second-year pro who spent the entire 2016-17 season on assignment with the Alaska Aces. The 6-foot-4 defenseman earned 13 points on six goals and seven assists during 70 games played during the regular season. The gritty blue liner also tacked on 117 penalty minutes during the campaign.

Stewart made his pro debut with Kalamazoo on assignment in 2015, but returned to the Western Hockey League after a brief stint with the Wings. In total, he’s skated in 80 professional games at the ECHL/AHL level and has recorded 13 career points.

Before turning pro, Stewart spent three full seasons in the WHL with the Prince Albert Raiders and Tri-City Americans. He appeared in 163 career amateur games, scoring 15 goals and assisting on 16 others.

Stewart was a seventh round (186th overall) pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Garteig (gar-TAG), 25, gets assigned to Kalamazoo after splitting 30 games last year between the Alaska Aces and Utica Comets. Over those appearances, he posted a record of 11-10-3, while registering a goals against average of 3.08 and a save percentage of .904%.

Well-decorated during his amateur career, Garteig spent four seasons at Quinnipiac University, where he accumulated a career record of 78-25-16, with a goals against average of 1.98 and a save percentage of .917%. His 78 career wins stand as the most of any Quinnipiac goaltender in school history, as do his 19 shutouts.

He backstopped Quinnipiac’s ECAC Championship winning team in 2015-16 and was twice named to the league’s Third All-Star Team. He was also a four-time member of the ECAC All-Academic Team.

Catch all the regular season action at Wings Event Center with tickets that start at just $10! Shop for yours today at www.kwings.com/singlegametickets.

Wings Event Center, owned and operated by Greenleaf Hospitality Group, is home to the Kalamazoo Wings professional hockey team and a full entertainment venue offering concerts, sporting events, family shows and trade shows. Built in 1974, Wings Event Center values partnerships with the community to bring events and attractions that enrich the lives of residents in the Kalamazoo area.

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