had a big frame. Our scouts
made a good call,” said Oil
Caps’ head coach Troy Leslie.
Zach credits his time in
Virden as a major turning
point in his life, saying
he learned a lot and grew
as a student, a hockey
player and a man.
Quick to credit his
parents and coaches for their
significant contributions to his
success to date, Zach pauses
to put special emphasis on
his relationship with Jack
and Karen Forster of Virden.
“Those two people really
impacted my life. There
were hard days when things
weren’t going right and
I was having a hard time
seeing the future past junior
hockey. But my Billet-Mom
Karen and my Billet-Dad
Jack really bought into what
I believed in. They helped
me get through those two
years of junior successfully
and with a positive mind.”
Most journeys in life
“
ZACH CREDITS HIS TIME
IN VIRDEN AS A MAJOR
TURNING POINT IN HIS LIFE
include mileposts that
mark achievements and
enlightenment along
the way. For Zach, a
commitment to physical
conditioning and nutrition
was one of those. Coach
Leslie confirms that getting
serious about conditioning
and nutrition was a critical
turning point for Zach.
That commitment to
conditioning and willingness
to make the extra effort
required to excel also made
Zach standout the first
time Bemidji State hockey
coach Tom Serratore saw
him. Bemidji State holds
a summer hockey camp
for players who want to
attend and Zach Whitecloud
made sure he was there.
“Zach wanted to do this. I
1 0 2 | G AME ON | PL AYOFF ED ITION 2018
”
sure respected it. He was the
only freshman down here that
summer. He didn’t know any
of our older guys. He wants to
be the very best he can be and
he’ll do whatever it takes.”
Off the ice he is a proud
and responsible aboriginal
spokesman and leader. He is
very conscious of his stature
and responsibility in the
community, particularly the
large indigenous population
in the Bemidji region.
“Aboriginal kids don’t
always have the greatest
opportunities. They have to
see that it is possible to make
something of yourself from
whatever situation you are in.
It’s all about the mindset.”
His community
involvement is not newly
discovered. In 2014 he was
named a co-winner of the
Manitoba Aboriginal Sports
and Recreation Council athlete
of the year award which
included recognition of his
significant off-ice contributions
to the community.
Serious about his image,
his life and his career, Zach
admits to being a kid when it
comes to hockey. He recalls
the road trip that led up to
his international debut. After
a weekend doubleheader in
Alaska, a stop-over in Seattle,
a 12-hour overseas flight
and a two-hour drive, Zach
arrived at Team Canada’s first
practice in Biel Switzerland.
“I’m not good at sleeping on
planes and that one wasn’t any
different but when I got there
my excitement took over. The
outdoor hockey rink kid in me
came out. I was just out there
having fun playing with guys
who knew the game, loved
the game were pros at it.”
The outdoor-hockey-rink-kid
has come a long way from his
backyard to increasingly larger
and more important venues.
Many seasoned observers,
Bemidji State’s Serratore
included, believe bigger arenas
are in store in the not too
distant future. NHL scouts love
his style and his attitude and he
even attended the L.A. Kings
development camp last year.
“He’s got so much depth to
his game I think he’s gonna
be a very good pro player,”
Serratore said. “He’s got all
the intangibles but the biggest
thing is he’s got the want-
to and the love and passion
for the game. At the end of
the day that’s the X-factor
for a lot of players.” ❍