Whether he was on the bench, on the ice, or chatting with the media, Zeev Buium looked completely at ease. The 18-year-old from San Diego was the first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild last month and was on the ice as part of the team’s three-day development camp.
But how Buium (pronounced “Boo-y-YUM,” according to his college bio) the Israeli-American teenager went from Southern California to Faribault, Minn, to Northville, Mich., to Denver on his way to getting drafted 12th overall in NHL Draft starts with a Jewish mother who didn’t want her boys playing hockey.
“We had a cousin who played about five minutes down the road, and Shai (Zeev’s older brother) loved watching him play,” said Zeev, who was 3 ½ years old at the time. “He begged my parents play. I think my mom said ‘over my dead body.’
“She obviously didn’t know what the sport was, or what the path was or anything. Eventually, she let Shai play. And my oldest brother (Ben) got into it, and so I just kind of followed along as little brother. And very glad I did, obviously.”
Zeev Buium takes a shot at Colorado College goalie and Minnesota Wild development camp invitee Kaidan Mbereko. (Lonny Goldsmith/TC Jewfolk)
Shai Buium is also a defenseman playing in the Detroit Red Wings organization; Ben won gold for Team USA at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Israel but didn’t play in college. The two were teammates at Denver University last season, winning the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff tournament (scoring the overtime winner in the semifinal) and the NCAA Championship – both at the home of Minnesota Wild, the Xcel Energy Center.
“The Frozen Four was awesome, and, a memory I’ll have forever,” he said. “Two championships in four games was pretty good”
He’s somewhat familiar with Minnesota, playing at the prestigious prep school Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault when he was 13, for his under-14 and under-15 seasons He then moved to suburban Detroit to play with the Under-17 and Under-18 U.S. National Development Teams, before moving to Denver.
On the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, Buium was with his collegiate team in Alaska, waiting to make his college debut.
“It was tough. You get a call from your mom that some of your family members might not be okay, or whatnot… and [you’ve] gotta try to try to block it out,” he said, adding that having his brother with him was comforting in the situation. “As much as it sucks, and as much as you love [the game], you know, you’ve got to play for them in a way.”
Buium’s freshman season in Denver was record-setting for the school. As the second-youngest player in college hockey last season, his 50-point-season (11 goals and 39 assists) was the first for a Denver freshman in 40 years, and he was the sixth player in the program’s 75-year history to have 50 points as a freshman. He was the conference rookie-of-the-year, offensive defenseman of the year, first-team all-conference, and made the conference and NCAA all-tournament teams.
Even though having a career year as a freshman, what happens next isn’t set in stone. Under NCAA rules, Buium can return to Denver and play for the Pioneers until he signs his three-year entry-level contract with the Wild. So whether he spends next season in St. Paul or the Rockies is to be determined, in consultation with Wild GM Bill Guerin and Denver coach David Carle.
“I still have to have a conversation with them,” he said. “Most likely going back to Denver, trying to defend our title. Hopefully playing the World Juniors (for Team USA) again, trying to defend that title as well. For me, that’s, that’s a great challenge. I’d love to even develop more, get my body bigger and feel better. And, you know, hopefully, we’ll see where I am after that.”
Zeev Buium’s tattoo with the Hebrew dates of the Hebrew dates of his winning gold medals for Team USA at the World Under-18 Championships and the World Junior Championships, and his national title at Denver. (Twitter/X Photo by Adam Kimelman/@NHLAdamK)
Buium is hoping to join a group of several Jewish NHL players. He wears his Jewish upbringing not just on his neck with a chai necklace, but on his arm. He recently got his first tattoo: the Hebrew dates of his winning gold medals for Team USA at the World Under-18 Championships and the World Junior Championships, and his national title at Denver.
What if he defends the latter two titles or even helps bring a Stanley Cup to St. Paul?
“I’ve got another arm,” he quipped.
