The National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights, and General Manager George McPhee have signed Bemidji State University sophomore defenseman Zach Whitecloud to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The Brandon, Manatoba native, who will wear No. 2 for Vegas, is expected to join the team Saturday when the Golden Knights travel to Buffalo, N.Y. for a matinee with the Sabres. Whitecloud joins BSU great Brad Hunt on the Golden Knight blue line. In 38 games for Vegas this season, Hunt has 17 points (3g-14a).

In its first season, Vegas is currently second in the NHL’s Western Conference and leads the Pacific Division with a record of 42-19-5 and is poised to make a run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Whitecloud will become the ninth Beaver to skate in the NHL. He follows Jim McElmury (1967-71), Dale Smedsmo (1969-72), Gary Sargent (1972-73), Joel Otto (1980-84), Andrew Murray (2001-05), Matt Climie (2004-08), Matt Read (2007-11) and Hunt (2008-12).

Whitecloud made an appearance in 36 of the Beavers’ 38 games as a sophomore. The defender finished seventh on the team in scoring with 18 points (4g-14a), which included a career-high mark of 14 assists and a pair of game-winning goals. Whitecloud also finished the season with a team-best 51 blocked shots and was the anchor of a BSU power-play unit that set a Division I-era program mark for efficiency converting 31-of-143 opportunities (.217) finishing the season third on the team in power-play scoring, netting 10 (1g-9a) of his 19 points came on the man advantage.

In 77 collegiate appearances over two seasons with Bemidji State, Whitecloud posted 36 points (7g-29a) and he finished his career with an even plus/minus rating.

A WCHA Scholar-Athlete honoree and member of the WCHA All-Academic Team, Whitecloud was named to the 2016-17 WCHA All-Rookie Team. In addition he was a two-time WCHA Player of the Week recipient.