Zach Whitecloud

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

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. He considers both Brandon and Sioux Valley as home. As a youth, he played for the Sioux Valley team and then the Brandon Youth Hockey Association.

Playing career During his second full season with the Virden Oil Capitals, Whitecloud announced his commitment to play hockey for Bemidji State University. 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. Following his sophomore year at Bemidji, Whitecloud was named the 2017–18 WCHA Scholar-Athlete and named to the WCHA All-Academic Team. He ended the season with 19 points and a team-best 51 blocked shots. He played his first career NHL game on April 5, 2018, against the Edmonton Oilers. He finished the game with a team-best plus-3 in 16:42 of ice time in a 4–3 loss to the Oilers. 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.

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.

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. He was signed to a two-year contract extension on March 22, 2020.

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

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. The Golden Knights reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, with Whitecloud one of two indigenous players in the series, alongside Mohawk defenceman Brandon Montour of the opposing Florida Panthers. The Golden Knights defeated the Panthers in five games, and Whitecloud hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Calgary Flames Whitecloud was traded to the Calgary Flames on January 18, 2026, with prospect Abram Wiebe, a conditional 2027 first-round pick, and a conditional 2028 second-round pick, for Rasmus Andersson.

International play

Whitecloud was the youngest skater selected to play for Team Canada at the 2017 Karjala Cup in Finland. He was later named to Team Canada's pre-Olympic roster before the 2018 Winter Olympics 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.

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 2023–24 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 61 2 12 14 32 6 0 0 0 2 2024–25 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 74 4 9 13 37 11 0 2 2 8 2025–26 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 47 2 5 7 20 — — — — — 2025–26 Calgary Flames NHL 31 0 10 10 10 — — — — — NHL totals 399 23 65 88 188 78 5 12 17 53

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2022 Canada WC 10 2 2 4 6 2026 Canada WC 4th 10 0 1 1 8Senior totals 20 2 3 5 14

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