Zach Whitecloud brings Stanley Cup home to southwestern Manitoba

Hoisting the Stanley Cup in the centre of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation's powwow arbour, Las Vegas Golden Knight Zach Whitecloud was greeted with roars of appreciation Wednesday.

Whitecloud said he was grateful to bring the cup to some of his most important places and stepping stones in his life — his homes in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Brandon, and the Tundra Oil and Gas arena in Virden where he played with the Oil Capitals.

Hundreds gathered to see the Stanley Cup winner and Sioux Valley Dakota Nation hero waving cutouts of Whitecloud's jersey number as he entered the arena in a horse-drawn carriage. 

Sioux Valley's drum group Dakota Hotain played an honour song for Whitecloud, and chief and council gifted him a star blanket with the Las Vegas Golden Knights colours.

"It's emotional because not everybody gets to receive that ... I know how important that is and the magnitude and the weight that carries, and the importance of it for our community," Whitecloud said.

Whitecloud grew up in Brandon but also considers himself part of the Sioux Valley community, where many of his family members still live.

Bringing the Cup to Sioux Valley, Virden and Brandon has been a special experience because it's an opportunity to connect with people he used to see playing in the juniors, Whitecloud said. It also offered an opportunity to connect with new people.

These connections add to the magnitude of bringing the cup to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation for the first time.

"Anytime you get to take it anywhere it's special and it's the hardest trophy in sports to win," Whitecloud said.

"Being able to bring it back to my mom's house in Brandon, being able to bring it to the [Virden] rink here and of course Sioux Valley and just being able to