The NCHC has announced that Denver freshman Zeev Buium has been named Player of the Month.

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

The San Diego native 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 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 +5. The four-assist game was the first by a DU freshman defenseman since 2002 and only the third by any NCAA freshman blueliner since 2016.

Along with his offense, Buium blocked three shots during the month and played on a penalty kill unit that was 23 for 27 (85.2 percent) in November. One of his goals came on the power play, helping DU post a 28.1 percent success rate on the man advantage in the month.

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

In California, Buium played for the SDIA Oilers and Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Photo/Martin Gonzalez

(November 29, 2023)