By Dan Ninham
Recent Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud played two seasons at NCAA DI Bemidji State University. He left a lasting positive impression not only in the university community but also with an expansive regional fan base, and notably among native people.
Whitecloud has more than a few distinctions that makes him being followed by an ever increasing fan base. He is one of two former BSU hockey players to win the Stanley Cup. The other was Joel Otto who was a member of the undefeated 31-0 1983-84 NCAA DII National Champion BSU Beavers. Otto also played with the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers.
Whitecloud also has the distinction of being indigenous as a member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation of Canada. He shares this distinction as a BSU Beaver with Gary Sargent (Red Lake Ojibwe), who played one year at BSU in the 1972-73 season, was an NCAA DII national champion and national player of the year and played in the NHL for the Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota North Stars.
Whitecloud had an extensive fan base of community people and most notably, native people in Bemidji. Petra Neadeau (Red Lake Ojibwe) and her sons Aiden and Daniel got to know Zach and continue to stay in contact. “When I met the Indigenous defenseman Zach Whitecloud from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation playing for my alma mater, I immediately appointed myself as his ‘Bemidji Hockey Mom,’” said Petra Neadeau. “I wanted Zach to feel connected to an indigenous community while far from his family, home, and people. Interconnection is fundamental for Indigenous people; we thrive when we feel connected to the community. Along with my extended family, we were delighted to welcome him in as one of our own and we shared many family meals, holidays, and birthday celebrations with Zach during his time at Bemidji State University.”
“The distance and his student/athlete schedule made it challenging for Zach to travel home as often as he would have liked. Throughout the school year, when he appreciated mini-breaks from campus life and campus food, he came over and enjoyed home-cooked meals, no lines for laundry, and uninterrupted study space. We also had the honor of celebrating his 20th birthday with a family dinner. Zach’s family traveled to Bemidji often and it was wonderful to form great friendships with the Whitecloud family,” added Neadeau.
“Zach is deeply compassionate and he is inherently kind,” said Neadeau. “He was an amazing role model for my son Aiden, who at that time was a pre-teen bantam hockey player. Zach was always happy to share advice and tips to help Aiden grow as an athlete and a teammate. He would spend time with him skating at the neighborhood outdoor rink across the street from our house or playing NHL on the Xbox.”
“We will always treasure the time that Zach volunteered to join Aiden’s bantam practice one evening and assist the coaches. He was like the older brother my son never had and he will always be considered family,” added Neadeau.
Ogema Neadeau, Petra’s older brother, and his family also befriended Whitecloud during his tenure at Bemidji State University. Ogema recalled: “My family spent a little time with Zach. He was a great young man. He was always kind and respectful. My nephew and son were Pee-Wee hockey players when Zach was a BSU Beaver. Zach helped out with practice a couple times. We all thought it would be cool for the boys to have a Beaver at practice; we didn’t know at the time he would be in the NHL and now on the Stanley Cup which makes that experience even cooler.”
“What impressed me the most about Zach was his understanding that he was a role model for Native people and always took that responsibility seriously,” added Ogema.
The Garbow family of Duluth, MN are fans of Zach Whitecloud. “We started watching Zach Whitecloud when he was a player for BSU,” said Jennifer Garbow, (Bois Forte Ojibwe).
“Our youngest son started playing hockey when he was five and was just a little guy when Whitecloud was playing. It was such an inspiration to our family to see a young native man be a successful hockey player. It made a positive impression on our son, knowing that he could play college level hockey. And fast forward to this year with Whitecloud winning the Stanley Cup was like a moment in time when, as an Indigenous person you feel pride.”
