| Zeev Buium | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Buium playing with theNTDP at theKohl Center in January 2023 | |||
| Born | (2005-12-07)December 7, 2005 (age 19) San Diego, California, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NCAA team | University of Denver | ||
| NHL draft | 12th overall,2024 Minnesota Wild | ||
Zeev Buium (born December 7, 2005) is an Americancollege ice hockeydefenseman for theUniversity of Denver of theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 12th overall by theMinnesota Wild in the2024 NHL entry draft.[1]
Buium played two seasons for theUSA Hockey National Team Development Program. During the2021–22 season, he recorded four goals and nine assists in 49 games for the Under-17 team, and two goals and three assists in 32 USHL games. During the2022–23 season, he led all team defensemen with 40 points in 63 total games for the Under-18 team, and two goals and ten assists in 23 USHL games.[2]
Buium began hiscollegiate career for theDenver Pioneers during the2023–24 season. He was the second-youngest player inNCAA Division I hockey during his freshman year.[3] He was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Player of the Month and the HCA National Co-Player of the Month for November 2023. He became the first freshman defenseman to ever win NCHC Player of the Month.[4] He led all NCHC players in points (14), points-per-game (1.75), assists (11) and plus/minus (+13) during the month.[5] With three assists in a game againstWestern Michigan on December 9, 2023, he extended his scoring streak to 12 games, surpassingLane Hutson's record for the longest point streak by a freshman defenseman in the last 21 years.[6] He was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for December 2023. During the month he recorded one goal and six assists in four games. His 1.75 points per game was tied for the most in the NCHC during the month, and his seven points led all league freshmen and defensemen in scoring in that time.[7] Buium led all NCHC freshmen and NCHC defensemen and ranked second behindJackson Blake with 31 points in 24 conference games, the second-most points ever in NCHC play by a defenseman, trailing onlyScott Perunovich's 32 points during the2019–20 season. His 25 assists in conference play were also second among all skaters and first among defensemen. Following the season he was named to theAll-NCHC First Team andAll-NCHC Rookie Team.[8] He was also namedNCHC Rookie of the Year andNCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year.[9]
During the2024–25 season, in his sophomore year, he led all defensemen in scoring with ten goals and 32 assists in 36 games. On November 15, 2024, in a game againstNorth Dakota, he scored his first careerhat-trick. This was the 12th hat-trick by a Denver defenseman in program history and the first sinceRyan Caldwell on February 14, 2004, againstMinnesota State.[10] During conference play he led all defensemen in scoring with eight goals and 20 assists. Following the season he was named to the All-NCHC First Team and NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year for the second consecutive year. He was also named theNCHC Player of the Year and a top-ten finalist for theHobey Baker Award.[11][12]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing United States | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 | 2024 Sweden | |
| 2025 Canada | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| 2023 Switzerland | |
Buium represented theUnited States at the2023 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded one goal and five assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[13][14]
On December 16, 2023, Buium was named to theUnited States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[15][16] He recorded three goals and two assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[17][18] He again represented the United States at the2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he recorded two goals and four assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[19] He helped team USA win back-to-back gold medals at theIIHF World Junior Championship for the first time in history.[20]
Buium was born to Israeli immigrants Sorin and Miriam Buium. His mother, Miriam, played professional basketball in Israel before an injury ended her playing career and she transitioned to a general manager.[21][22] Buium's older brother,Shai, also played college ice hockey atDenver and was drafted 36th overall by theDetroit Red Wings in the2021 NHL entry draft.[23] Buium has a tattoo on his left forearm commemorating the dates he won two gold medals and an NCAA title inHebrew.[24]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2021–22 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 32 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 23 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | University of Denver | NCHC | 42 | 11 | 39 | 50 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NCAA totals | 42 | 11 | 39 | 50 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | United States | U18 |  | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2024 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2025 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 21 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 6 | ||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | NCHC Rookie of the Year 2023–24 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year 2023–24,2024–25 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by | NCHC Player of the Year 2024–25 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Minnesota Wild first round draft pick 2024 | Succeeded by Incumbent |