Three DU Pioneers Sign Pro Contracts

The University of Denver hockey team will require some retooling next season. No less than three key Pioneer undergraduates have signed professional contracts since DU fell to eventual national champion Western Michigan in an NCAA semifinal on April 10 in St. Louis.

Sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium, the NCHC Player of the Year and one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL's Minnesota Wild. In two years at DU, Buium, 19, from San Diego, collected 24 goals and 74 assists for 98 points. 

Junior forward Jared Wright inked a two-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings, and has reported to Ontario (AHL). Wright, 22, a Burnsville, Minn. native, tallied 32-22—54 points over three seasons with DU. 

Junior forward Aidan Thompson signed a two-year ELC with the Chicago Blackhawks, and has been assigned to Rockford (AHL). In three seasons with the Pios, Thompson, 23, from Fort Collins, Co. notched 42-75—117 points.

Buium, Wright and Thompson were all members of Denver's record-breaking 10th NCAA title team in 2024.

Penn State, Denver Make 2025 Frozen Four

Penn State is off to its first-ever NCAA Division I Frozen Four, while defending national champion Denver is going back.

In Allentown, Matt DiMarsico scored with just over two minutes remaining in overtime to lift Penn State to a 3-2 victory over UConn at the PPL Center. In Manchester, Zev Buium tallied a goal and an assist as Denver held off Boston College, 3-1, at SNHU Arena.

Both teams advance to the Frozen Four in St, Louis on April 10. Denver will take on NCHC opponent Western Michigan in one semifinal, while Penn State will meet Boston University in the other. The semifinal winners will face off two days later for the national title.

Three NCAA Skaters Go in NHL First Round

The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas is in the books, after three current NCAA skaters were selected among the top 12 choices on Friday evening. 

Chosen first overall, as expected, was center Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), this year's Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, who went first overall to the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini is the first overall choice from a U.S. college since Owen Power (Michigan) in 2021, and just the fourth college player ever selected first in the history of the NHL draft. 

Right behind Celebrini in the number two slot was defenseman Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State), who was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks after helping MSU win both the Big Ten regular-season and conference crowns. Coming in 12th overall was defenseman Zeev Buium (Denver), who was tabbed by the Minnesota Wild after being a part of DU's NCAA championship team this year. 

Seven future NCAA players were then chosen among the final 18 selections of the first round. The draft concludes on Saturday at the Sphere, beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET (NHL Network).

NCAA Skaters Signing with NHL Clubs in 2024

The exodus of NCAA players to the professional ranks began before the 2024 NCAA tournament started, and has continued following the conclusion of the Frozen Four last weekend in St. Paul. 

Some of the more notable signings, many of them underclassmen, to date since April 1 have included (players listed in alphabetical order by last name):

PLAYER SCHOOL NHL CLUB
Sean Behrens Denver Colorado
Gavin Brindley * Michigan Columbus
Shai Buium Denver Detroit
Dylan Duke Michigan Tampa Bay
Cutter Gauthier * Boston College Anaheim
Lane Hutson * Boston U. Montreal
Victor Mancini #        Omaha           NY Rangers
Scott Morrow * UMass     Carolina
Bradley Nadeau *        Maine           Carolina
Frank Nazar III * Michigan Chicago
Victor Ostman Maine Seattle
Jacob Quillan # Quinnipiac Toronto
Massimo Rizzo Denver Philadelphia
Luke Tuch Boston U. Montreal 
Cade Webber Boston U. Toronto
Dylan Wendt # W. Michigan New Jersey

# Indicates player has made AHL playing debut 

* Indicates player has made NHL playing debut