MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a morning article which discusses Red Wings 2021 draft pick Shai Buium, who won the NCAA Division 1 hockey championship with teammates Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto as the University of Denver Pioneers took the title:
“It was incredible,” Buium said. “We had a special group, and we did a special thing. Probably one of the best times of my life.”
Buium played in 39 of the Pioneers’ 41 games and ranked third among the team’s defensemen with 18 points, including three goals, and posted a plus-20 rating, all while soaking up knowledge from the upperclassmen.
“Seeing the older guys, they put their hearts into the game,” Buium said. “We have guys on our team that have been there for five years, like Ryan Barrow. Just watching him win is incredible to learn how to mature your game. You just kind of build this respect for the game and you just want to win.”
Buium was joined in Denver by fellow Red Wings prospects Carter Mazur, his close friend and roommate, and Antti Tuomisto. Mazur noted Buium’s steady progress.
“He started figuring out his role and really started to take off towards the end of the year when it really mattered,” Mazur said. “His work ethic in the weight room, his work ethic on the ice, everything kind of came together towards the end of the year. I think his game really sets a team up for success and then you saw at Denver he just knows how to work the blueline, get open anywhere, can use his size, skill together.”
