Zach Whitecloud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zach Whitecloud |
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Whitecloud in 2018
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| Born | November 28, 1996 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada |
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| 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 | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||
Zach Whitecloud, born on November 28, 1996, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a defenceman for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League (NHL). Whitecloud was not chosen in the NHL draft. He signed with the Golden Knights in 2018 after playing for Bemidji State University.
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Zach Whitecloud's Early Life
Zach Whitecloud was born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. He was raised there and also spent time at the nearby Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Whitecloud is of Dakota descent. He considers both places his home.
Zach started skating when he was only two years old. As a young player, he played for the Sioux Valley team. Later, he joined the Brandon Youth Hockey Association. When Zach was growing up, his family helped host players for the Brandon Wheat Kings team. He finished high school at Vincent Massey High School in 2015.
Zach Whitecloud's Hockey Career
Zach Whitecloud played for the Virden Oil Capitals for two full seasons. After that, he decided to play college hockey for Bemidji State University.
College Hockey
In his first year at Bemidji State, Zach was the top-scoring defenceman on his team. Because of his great play, the Los Angeles Kings invited him to their development camp. This was before the 2017–18 NHL season.
After his second year at Bemidji, Zach earned special awards. He was named a WCHA Scholar-Athlete and made the WCHA All-Academic Team. He finished that season with 19 points. He also blocked 51 shots, which was the most on his team.
Joining the Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights signed Zach Whitecloud to a three-year contract on March 8, 2018. This was his first professional contract.
He played his very first NHL game on April 5, 2018. It was against the Edmonton Oilers. In that game, he played for over 16 minutes. He also had a team-best plus-3 rating, even though the Golden Knights lost 4–3. The Golden Knights made it to the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs that year. However, Zach could not play because he was not on the team's official roster by the trade deadline.
Before the 2018–19 season, Zach went to the Knights' training camp. He was then sent to play for their minor league team, the Chicago Wolves. This team plays in the American Hockey League.
Becoming a Key Player
Late in the 2019–20 season, Zach became a regular player for the Vegas Golden Knights. He and his teammate, Nick Holden, formed one of the best defensive pairs in the playoffs. They were very good at defending and keeping control of the puck. On March 22, 2020, Zach signed a new two-year contract with the Golden Knights.
On October 28, 2021, Zach Whitecloud signed an even bigger contract. It was for six years and worth $16.5 million. This showed how much the team valued him.
Winning the Stanley Cup
In the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Golden Knights played against the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets are from Zach's home province of Manitoba. Zach mentioned that many people in his family were fans of the Jets. They usually cheered for them when they weren't playing against the Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights made it all the way to the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. Zach Whitecloud was one of two Indigenous players in the series. The other was Mohawk defenceman Brandon Montour from the Florida Panthers. The Golden Knights won the series against the Panthers in five games. Zach Whitecloud got to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time!
International Hockey Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championship | ||
| Silver | 2022 Finland | |
Zach Whitecloud was the youngest skater chosen to play for Team Canada. This was at the 2017 Karjala Cup in Finland. He was also named to Team Canada's list of players for the 2018 Winter Olympics. However, he did not make the final team.
Personal Life
During the 2018 offseason, Zach Whitecloud volunteered as a guest instructor. He helped at Micheal Ferland's Hockey School in Brandon, Manitoba. He taught young players alongside other hockey stars.
Awards and Honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| WCHA All-Rookie Team | 2016–17 | |
| NHL | ||
| Stanley Cup champion | 2023 | |
Images for kids
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Whitecloud in 2018
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Whitecloud with the Golden Knights in 2024.
