As Tundra Oil & Gas Place staff transitioned the arena from rodeo to the upcoming hockey season, several hundred Virdenites stood patiently in line outside the Sunrise Banquet Hall, awaiting their turn to witness a piece of the sport’s history.
For about an hour on Aug.23, Vegas Golden Knights Defenceman Zach Whitecloud reunited with legions of local fans who were given an opportunity to pose for a photo with him and the Stanley Cup. Whitecloud, 26, grew up on the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation reserve and from 2013 to 2016, was an integral part of the Virden Oil Capitals junior hockey team. He moved on to a pro hockey career, and since 2018 he has played for the Knights, the team that captured the Cup this year.
Whitecloud’s Virden appearance followed an earlier celebration at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation community (see www.empireadvance.ca: Zach brings the Cup home).
