Stewart finding right fit with Men's Soccer and Futsal Huskies

Two things attracted Dylan Stewart to Alberta when he was looking at post-secondary options: the mountains and the beautiful game.
 
While he may not have ended up close to the former, he’s right where he needs to be when it comes to the latter. 
 
“I wanted to be near the mountains, even though I didn’t get near it,” he said with a laugh. “New scenery for sure; Alberta was the place.” 
 
The Winnipeg, Man. product entertained a recruitment pitch from current Keyano Huskies Men’s Soccer Head Coach Niels Slotboom once upon a time when Slotboom was leading the Olds College Broncos.  
 
Though Stewart eventually chose to play for the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves, now Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves, the relationship has come full circle for the pair with the Huskies, producing a pair of ACAC Championships last season.
 
“I needed a new place to come, and the transition was actually a lot easier than I expected,” Stewart said as he steps into his second year with the Huskies. “Overall, the guys made it a lot easier.”   
 
It’s not just about Dylan Stewart the athlete either, but Dylan Stewart the person as well. He can see the growth in himself and what he’s been able to channel off the field to become better at his game when he’s on it.  


 
"I’ve dealt with a lot of ups and downs so that’s made me a more patient person,” Stewart said. “The community and all these guys definitely help out with any struggles.  
 
“I’m more mature and more confident as a person.” 

Time has served Stewart well and, by extension, the Huskies. A key part of last year’s double-championship team, Stewart knows that while he may have reached the top of the ACAC podium, he’s not done competing for a chance to step onto the top of the podium.  
 
Stewart is part of what keeps the Huskies rolling from the back out or as an intermediary in the middle when called upon.  
 
“Winning is a habit, especially for it to be something that’s consistent and not being one off,” Slotboom said. “I think that’s what we’ve shown now with two futsal championships and a soccer championship. We’ve been able to create an environment where winning is possible and it’s something we can maintain.

“The confidence that comes with that, the habits that come with that, and obviously winning reinforces those habits. It’s a nice combination of two to set up that culture.”  

On Stewart’s end, it’s now a habit of life to keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacle or setback.  
 
“Most of my life I’ve stayed very driven; I made sure not to give that up,” he said. “Over time, I kept my confidence up and had to build a lot of confidence to be honest.
 
As he enters the back half of his Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) career, Stewart is stepping up to provide the same nurturing he experienced last year.
 
“You always hope to have players gradually get better as you’re in your program and solidify themselves within the structure and the culture we’ve built,” Slotboom said of Stewart. “He’s developing those leadership skills that we would expect from a third year and probably a little bit better than that.
 
“He’s adapted really quickly, found the value in it, and now is pushing that value onto all the other players.”

Stewart and the Men’s Soccer Huskies take to the pitch at Shell Place against the NWP Wolves Saturday, September 14 at 4:00pm with the Women’s game beginning at 2:00pm. The rematches take place on Sunday at Shell Place with 12:00pm and 2:00pm kick-offs.