A week after helping guide the University of Denver hockey team to its 10th national title, juniors Massimo Rizzo and Shai Buium signed entry-level contracts with NHL franchises.
Rizzo inked a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Buium agreed to a three-year pact with the Detroit Red Wings that starts in the 2024-25 season, the teams announced on Wednesday,
Rizzo, 22, was the Pioneers’ No. 3 scorer this past season with 44 points (10 goals, 34 assists) and finished his DU career with 126 points (39 goals, 87 assists) over 107 games as the 102nd member of DU’s 100-point club.
The Burnaby, British Columbia, native was originally selected by Carolina in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL draft, but had his rights traded to the Flyers last year. Sidelined by injury for 14 games toward the end of this past season, the junior forward rejoined the Pios in time to play in the Frozen Four and secure his second national title.
Buium, 21, appeared in all but one of the Pios’ 44 games this season, putting up career highs in goals (7), assists (29) and points (36). Picked 36th overall by the Red Wings the summer before his freshman year in 2021, the San Diego native tallied 75 points (14 goals, 61 assists) in 120 games for DU. Like Rizzo, he leaves Denver with a pair of championship rings.
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