The DU Pioneers’ celebration in the wake of the school’s 10th NCAA hockey championship, a 2-0 win over Boston College on April 13 in St. Paul, Minn., was barely over when one of their stars dropped some news that was not at all surprising.
He’s leaving.
Shai Buium, upon finishing his junior season with two national titles in three years at DU, took the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings up on their offer to join the franchise that drafted him in the second round in 2021.
“I’m really excited about this,” Shai told the IJN by phone from Des Moines, Iowa. “I just feel honored to be given this opportunity, this chance, and I’m just going to run with it.”
So, instead of settling back into his college studies, Buium immediately joined the Red Wings’ farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins, who were playing in Des Moines against the Iowa Wild. Buium will play with the Griffins throughout the upcoming Calder Cup playoffs.
Buium’s departure breaks up a trio of Jewish players on the Pios, all three from San Diego, including Buium’s freshman brother Zeev and their friend, freshman Sam Harris.
“We’ve always been really close,” said Shai. “Zeev and I were really lucky to be able to play together at Denver, which is such a special program.
“I feel very fortunate to have been able to be playing with my brother for a year, because that may never happen again.”
Said Zeev: “To play with him this year to do exactly what we wanted to do, win a national championship together, left a good taste in our mouth.
“I’m so proud of him and happy for this next journey that he’s going to have in his life, and he deserves every second of it.
“I’d be lying to you if I told you that I didn’t want him here next year with me again, but he is ready to move on. We did everything we wanted to accomplish this year.”
It was serendipitous that three players from San Diego who grew up together played college hockey together.
“To have three San Diego guys on the same team has been great,” said Harris. “I’ve talked to several people who said that ‘if you told me 20 years ago that three kids from San Diego were going to win a national championship, I would have thought you were crazy.’”
“It’s pretty rare that you have three California hockey players on the same team, and even more rare that they are Jewish,” said Zeev. “We talk about it sometimes and I love that hopefully we’re inspiring other Jews to play the game. Hopefully we’re sharing that around the world.”
However, the trio has now become a duo. Harris had a warm sendoff for his friend Shai:
“I said, ‘congratulations, brother. I’m proud of you.’ I gave him a handshake, wished him all the best of luck and mentioned that maybe we’ll cross paths later.”
That might happen. The Montreal Canadiens have their eye on Harris; they drafted him in the fifth round of last year’s draft, and Sam already has a connection to Quebec.
“After a tournament last year in Cornwall, Ontario, my family and I visited Montreal,” said Harris. “Both of my grandparents on my dad’s side are from Montreal, so I was able to see where they grew up.
“To walk through the neighborhoods where they were and where they grew up as kids is really awesome.”
Zeev, 18, was rumored to be considering an early jump to the NHL. After this past initial season at DU, Zeev might have been considered as a top-10 pick in the 2024 draft had he left DU when his brother did.
“I’m staying,” said Zeev. “Another year here couldn’t hurt anyone. There are things I want to work on.
“I love this place, and it’s not somewhere I’m ready to leave yet.”
That will give Zeev and Sam more opportunities to cross-pollinate classes.
“I walked into Zeev’s Hebrew class one day and I was talking with the teacher,” said Harris. “I knew Ani ohev l’sachek hockey — ‘I love to play hockey,’ which is the only thing I know in Hebrew.
“I took Hebrew for eight years growing up, but now I’ve forgotten everything except for the most important stuff.”
Like, “I love to play hockey.”
In a chilling coincidence, DU’s road to the 2024 title began in the first game of the past season against Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 7, 2023. Buium’s parents, both originally from Israel, have family and friends there.
“Our family is awesome,” said Zeev. “With them going through that, and then calling us acting like nothing’s going on, to protect us. I’m praying every day that everyone over there is safe.
“I know they’re going to be safe.”
The NCAA doesn’t keep statistics on the times a brother tandem has played on the same championship team, but it is, no doubt, rarified air.
It’s something Shai Buium holds close to his heart, even while diving into professional hockey rather quickly.
“You may never win anything again in your life,” said Shai. “Obviously you want to, but especially with your brother, your family, it’s special.”
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