Zach Whitecloud

Zach Whitecloud (born November 28, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Whitecloud went undrafted while playing for Bemidji State University. As a college free agent, he signed with the Golden Knights in 2018.

Zach Whitecloud
Whitecloud in 2018
Born (1996-11-28) November 28, 1996
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team Vegas Golden Knights
National team  Canada
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2018–present

Early life

Zach Whitecloud was born on November 28, 1996, in Brandon, Manitoba. Whitecloud is of Dakota descent and was raised in Brandon, spending time at the nearby Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.[1] He considers both Brandon and Sioux Valley as home.[1] Whitecloud began skating at two years old.[2] As a youth, he played for the Sioux Valley team and then the Brandon Youth Hockey Association.[1] During his childhood, Whitecloud's family served as a billet family for Brandon Wheat Kings players.[2] Whitecloud graduated from Vincent Massey High School in 2015.[3]

Playing career

During his second full season with the Virden Oil Capitals, Whitecloud announced his commitment to play hockey for Bemidji State University.[4] Following his rookie year at Bemidji State, where he led defencemen in scoring, Whitecloud was invited to the Los Angeles Kings development camp before the 2017–18 NHL season.[5][6] Following his sophomore year at Bemidji, Whitecloud was named the 2017–18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete and named to the WCHA All-Academic Team.[7] He ended the season with 19 points and a team-best 51 blocked shots.[7]

Vegas Golden Knights

Whitecloud was signed by the Vegas Golden Knights to a three-year, entry-level contract on March 8, 2018.[8][9] He played his first career NHL game on April 5, 2018, against the Edmonton Oilers.[10] He finished the game with a team-best plus-3 in 16:42 of ice time in a 4–3 loss to the Oilers.[11] Although the Golden Knights qualified for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Whitecloud was ineligible to be on the roster since he was not on the team's reserve list by the trade deadline.[12]

While attending the Knights training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Whitecloud was re-assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves.[13]

Late in the 2019–20 season, Whitecloud established himself with Vegas Golden Knights and he and teammate Nick Holden were one of the best duos in the playoffs in terms of defense and possession.[14] He was signed to a two-year contract extension on March 22, 2020.[15]

On October 28, 2021, Whitecloud signed a six-year, $16.5 million contract extension with the Golden Knights.[16]

The first round of the Golden Knights' 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs was played against the Winnipeg Jets of Whitecloud's home province, with him noting that many in his family had been fans of the team and generally cheered for them when not playing the Golden Knights.[17] The Golden Knights reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, with Whitecloud one of two indigenous players in the series, alongside Mohawk defenceman Brandon Montour of the opposing Florida Panthers.[18] The Golden Knights defeated the Panthers in five games, and Whitecloud hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time.[19]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championship
Silver medal – second place2022 Finland

Whitecloud was the youngest skater selected to play for Team Canada at the 2017 Karjala Cup in Finland.[20] He was later named to Team Canada's pre-Olympic roster before the 2018 Winter Olympics[21] but failed to make the final roster.

Personal life

During the 2018 offseason, Whitecloud volunteered as a guest instructor at Micheal Ferland's Hockey School in Brandon, Manitoba, alongside Brigette Lacquette, Harley Garrioch, Jens Meilleur, Ryan Pulock, Tyler Plante, Shaq Merasty, Josh Elmes, and Joel Edmundson.[22]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 Brandon Wheat Kings Midget MMHL 8 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2012–13 Central Plains Capitals Midget MMHL 43 1 5 6 92 2 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Portage Terriers MJHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Brandon Wheat Kings Midget MMHL 43 8 13 21 59 8 0 3 3 8
2013–14 Virden Oil Capitals MJHL 1 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 1 0
2014–15 Virden Oil Capitals MJHL 57 3 7 10 42 10 1 3 4 10
2015–16 Virden Oil Capitals MJHL 59 6 34 40 105 7 2 3 5 6
2016–17 Bemidji State University WCHA 41 3 14 17 41 — — — — —
2017–18 Bemidji State University WCHA 36 4 15 19 8 — — — — —
2017–18 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2018–19 Chicago Wolves AHL 74 6 22 28 52 22 3 12 15 11
2019–20 Chicago Wolves AHL 35 2 5 7 18 — — — — —
2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 16 0 1 1 4 20 2 1 3 6
2020–21 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 51 2 10 12 24 19 1 3 4 16
2021–22 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 59 8 11 19 20 — — — — —
2022–23 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 59 5 7 12 41 22 2 6 8 21
NHL totals 18615294489 615101543

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 2 2 4 6
Senior totals 10 2 2 4 6

Awards and honours
Award Year
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team 2016–17 [23]
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2023 [24]

References
  1. Champion, Aidan (August 25, 2022). "Zach Whitecloud Speaks on His Indigenous Upbringing". VGK Today. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  2. Willhite, Lindsey (May 7, 2019). "Whitecloud serves as role model for First Nations". Chicago Wolves. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  3. Wark, Robin (April 2, 2015). "Whitecloud honoured to be named one of the province's top aboriginal athletes". Westman Journal. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018. Whitecloud played high school hockey at Vincent Massey, where he will graduate from in June.
  4. "WHITECLOUD HEADING TO BEMIDJI". Virden Oil Capitals. January 1, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  5. Laskaris, Sam (July 11, 2017). "NHL teams giving Zach Whitecloud a serious look". windspeaker.com. Aboriginal Multi-Media Society. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  6. "2017 LA Kings Development Camp Roster Announced". NHL.com. June 26, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  7. "Zach Whitecloud". bsubeavers.com. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  8. "Golden Knights Sign Free Agent Defenseman Zach Whitecloud". Vegas Golden Knights. March 8, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  9. "Zach Whitecloud". CapFriendly. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  10. Carp, Steve (April 5, 2018). "Knights' rookie defenseman Zach Whitecloud makes NHL debut". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  11. Monteith, Austin (April 5, 2018). "MEN'S HOCKEY: Whitecloud suits up for Golden Knights in NHL debut". The Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved April 18, 2018.(subscription required)
  12. "MEN'S HOCKEY: Whitecloud not on Vegas playoff roster". The Bemidji Pioneer. April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.(subscription required)
  13. Schoen, David (September 21, 2018). "Golden Knights place goaltender Oscar Dansk on waivers". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  14. Webster, Danny (January 11, 2021). "Nick Holden among 10 players Golden Knights placed on waivers". knightsonice.com. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  15. "VGK Sign Defenseman Zach Whitecloud To Two-Year Contract Extension". NHL.com. March 22, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  16. "VGK Sign Defenseman Zach Whitecloud to Six-Year Contract Extension". NHL.com. October 28, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  17. "Golden Knights' Zach Whitecloud ready to take on Jets in home province". CBC Sports. April 21, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  18. Passafiume, Alessia (June 5, 2023). "No matter who wins, the Stanley Cup will this year make its way to a First Nation in Canada". The Toronto Star. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  19. Simes, Jeremy (June 14, 2023). "'Pride in the valley': Manitoba First Nation celebrates Zach Whitecloud's Stanley Cup win". CBC Sports. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  20. Gearty, Alex (October 26, 2017). "Hockey Canada announces Karjala Cup roster". Sporting News. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  21. "FORMER OIL CAPS BLUELINER ZACH WHITECLOUD NAMED TO CANADIAN PRE-OLYMPIC ROSTER". Virden Oil Capitals. October 27, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  22. "First ever Micheal Ferland Hockey School to be held in Brandon". bdnmb.ca. March 3, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  23. "Awards - NCAA (WCHA) Rookie All-Star Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  24. Brewer, Contessa (June 14, 2023). "Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win cements Las Vegas as a big-time sports city". CNBC. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
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