After becoming the first freshman defenseman to ever win NCHC Player of the Month on Nov. 28, Denver rookie blueliner Zeev Buium has been named the Hockey Commissioners Association Men’s National Co-Player of the Month for November.

The San Diego native shares the honor with Lake Superior State senior forward Jared Westcott. Both players tied for the NCAA lead in November with 14 points.

Buium was dominant at both ends of the ice in November, helping Denver to a 6-2-0 record last month.

He led all NCHC players in points (14), points-per-game (1.75), assists (11) and plus/minus (plus-13) during the month. Along with his 11 helpers, the 17-year-old scored three goals in November and had three multi-point outings. Buium tallied at least a point in all eight games in November for a career-long eight-game point streak, tying for the longest by a DU freshman defenseman since 2002 (with current junior Sean Behrens).

Buium dished out an assist each night in a sweep of rival Colorado College to start the month on Nov. 3-4. He scored his first goal of the month on Nov. 10 at Arizona State, before handing out two helpers in an 8-4 win the next night. The NHL draft-eligible prospect had a four-point weekend in a split with Omaha Nov. 17-19, including a then-career-high three points (goal, two assists) in an 8-4 victory in the opener Nov. 17.

Buium saved his best for the last weekend of November, tallying five points in a 14-0 sweep of Yale to earn NCHC Defenseman of the Week. He scored a goal in a 5-0 win on Nov. 24, then doled out a career-high four assists and points in a 9-0 win a night later when he was plus-5. The four-assist game was only the third by any NCAA freshman blueliner since 2016.

Along with his offense, Buium blocked three shots in November and played on a penalty kill unit that was 23 for 27 (85.2 percent) last month.

On the season, Buium leads all NCHC defensemen with 14 assists and 18 points, while adding four goals, which ties for the NCHC blueliner lead. His plus-16 plus/minus also leads all NCHC defensemen and is third overall in the NCHC.

During his youth hockey days, Buium played for the SDIA Oilers and Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Photo/Martin Gonzalez

(December 4, 2023)