BUFFALO, N.Y. —Zach Whitecloud was doing fine in college. But he was looking to broaden his hockey horizons.
The NHL is a tough graduate school to get into and Whitecloud will continue his on-the-ice education with the Golden Knights, who signed the 21-year-old defenseman from Bemidji State University to a three-year entry level contract Thursday. Whitecloud is the first college free agent signed by the franchise.
“I just want to learn as much as I can and fit in with these guys,” Whitecloud said Saturday before the Knights faced the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. “I’m not worried about how much I play.