It’s not just one different emotion Zach Whitecloud is going through.
There’s excitement about coming back home to see his dogs. His in-laws have stayed at his and fiancee Madison’s house watching after them.
There’s a sense of weird, because he’s never been on the visitor’s side of the aisle facing the Vegas Golden Knights before.
Maybe nervous, too. This is the team where he went from an undrafted defenseman out of Bemidji State University to becoming a calming locker room presence on a Stanley Cup champion.
Whitecloud will face his former team for the first time as a member of the Calgary Flames since the blockbuster trade involving defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
“I spent seven, eight years here and created a lot of lifelong relationships here, not just with the team, but in the community,” Whitecloud said after practice at City National Arena on Wednesday. “I’m mainly excited to get back and see everyone, and play in front of that building.”
Not much has changed with Whitecloud. He’s still grateful to be playing in the NHL. He’s still excited to play hockey every day.
He hopped off the ice and immediately met with the media, holding two hockey sticks while cameras and microphones faced toward him.
“It’s a comfort thing,” he said.
A new role
There’s been comfort on the ice, too. Whitecloud has turned into a top-pairing blue liner in Calgary, averaging a career-high 22 minutes, 25 seconds a night.
While Whitecloud and best friend Nic Hague formed a formidable third pairing during the Knights’ championship run, he was always looking for opportunity.
That was hard to come by with the Knights, especially with Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore also occupying the right side.
“First and foremost, the guys and everyone at the organization (in Calgary) really did a fantastic job of making me feel at home pretty quick,” Whitecloud said.
Whitecloud got some help in his new home. He lived with former Knights defenseman and current Calgary teammate Brayden Pachal his first couple of days in Calgary.
Brayden McNabb then opened up his home to Whitecloud and Madison and they’ve stayed ever since.
“He’s being a really good friend, so I appreciate that,” Whitecloud said.
Whitecloud played 368 of his 391 career NHL games with the Knights, who signed him an undrafted college free agent in 2018.
Through the ranks
He became one of the Knights’ rare developmental success stories, working his way up through the American Hockey League and becoming a full-time NHL player midway through the 2020 season.
“We gave him a big hug, chatted with him,” said winger and other best friend Keegan Kolesar. “We tried to figure out if (the Flames) figured out all his nicknames. He’s got about 50 here in the locker room. I think they’ve only utilized three, so they got some work to do.”
Does Kolesar have a favorite nickname he can share?
“No,” he said. “None of them are appropriate.”
It was an emotional day for Kolesar on Jan. 18, the day his best friend got traded to Calgary. Kolesar drove to Whitecloud’s house, each had a Guinness and shared an emotional goodbye.
It’s likely to be emotional when Whitecloud receives his tribute video in the first period Thursday. Kolesar just hopes he goes all-out.
“Hopefully he does (what Jonathan Marchessault did), takes off his helmet and does a full lap,” Kolesar said. “Maybe they give him a microphone.”
Whitecloud was told Kolesar said this on the record.
“Yeah, I bet he did,” Whitecloud said, laughing.
Whitecloud said it will be weird watching that video, but it’ll be exciting for his friends and family that he’ll be showered with appreciation.
More so, it’ll be well-deserved.
“There’s not one bad thing to say about Las Vegas,” Whitecloud said. “It’s the people. It’s the community. The fans, the organization. Everyone that helped me make it to the NHL and be a regular here and try and help the team win.
“Every time I’m going to come back here in the future, it’s exciting for me. This will always be a home in my heart.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
Up next
Who: Flames at Golden Knights
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: T-Mobile Arena
TV: KMCC-34
Radio: KFLG 94.7 FM/KKGK 1340 AM
Line: Knights -265; total 5 ½