Miles Morrisseau
ICT
SIOUX VALLEY DAKOTA NATION — It was a celebration inside the Veterans Hall on the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation in Manitoba as the community gathered to cheer on local hero Zach Whitecloud and his Las Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas scored twice Tuesday in the first period and never took the foot off the gas, winning 9-3 over the Florida Panthers to become the 2023 Stanley Cup champions.
Around 1,500 miles away in Nevada, Whitecloud hoisted the Stanley Cup as his team won the series 4 games to 1.
“This is a monumental moment for our community,” Wakpa Mckay said to ICT. “This is the first time that this is going to happen to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to have the Stanley Cup in our community. It’d be awesome to see it at the powwow, you know, if they brought it in the grand entry.”
Read more:
— Mohawk takes on Dakota for hockey’s greatest prize
— Zach Whitecloud and Knights clinch Western Conference title
— Mohawk hockey star reaches Stanley Cup finals
— Stanley Cup Notebook
Around 300 people filled the hall to watch the game on two big TV screens and a glitzy party atmosphere with all tables covered in black or gold, balloons, cake and cupcakes, placards reading “Go Vegas Go” and jerseys and T-shirts with the team logo and the Whitecloud name on the back. The kids were in the bouncy castle and the fireworks were set to blow.
“It’s been fantastic for our community. He is setting an example that anything is possible and being an inspiration for our young people,” Chief Jennifer Bone told ICT. “Never give up on your hopes and dreams and to work hard for what you want because anything is possible.”
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Council member Michelle Rosmus has her car painted with Go Knights Go and Whitecloud #2 signs. “I can’t imagine what he’s going through right now, the emotions that his family is going through,” she said to ICT. “All of us are feeling that in the community and we are all just very proud.”
The Panthers, who had overachieved at every round, had been beaten down by the effort required to punch up. The Golden Knights just kept punching from one line to the next and eventually the damage was not recoverable. Chief instigator as well as big time scorer Matthew Tkatchuk did not even suit up for the final game. Despite his provocations at the end of Game 4, the Panthers assistant captain was hurt. It was revealed after the game that he had a broken sternum.
Brandon Montour, Mohawk, has earned the attention and praise of the hockey world with his playoff performance. The member of the Six Nations of the Grand River finished with 8 goals, the most of any defenseman in this postseason, he also had 4 assists and finished a plus 5. He averaged 27:10 ice time, the most of all players in the final two teams.
Florida’s Game 3 win is their only win in Stanley Cup history as the team was swept in their last appearance. Montour set a number of franchise records and some that may stand for a while. His 8 goals in the playoffs and two in the finals may be such a record, unless he breaks them himself.
Whitecloud had a solid series contributing on both ends of the ice, he finished with 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points and plus 12 which was third overall. He also racked up 21 minutes in penalties and averaged 18:48 of ice time and one game winning goal.
“It’s really moving. As a younger community member. It’s really inspiring to see my older cousin Zach Whitecloud battling it out over in Vegas,” said Mckay. “That’s pretty sweet.”
Interviewed on the ice after the game, Whitecloud was asked if he would like to send a message back to the people at the watch party. “Thank you for the support, the unwavering support consistently as I have gone throughout hockey and in my travels. I’m thankful for everyone at home following along the journey. I’m proud of my heritage, proud of my culture and proud of where I come from.”
The chief confirmed that the nation had preliminary “what if” discussions about hosting a Stanley Cup parade and now it is definitely going to happen.
*Correction: Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Council member Michelle Rosmus misidentified.
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