GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday signed defenseman Shai Buium (shy BOO-yuhm) to an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Buium also signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings that will begin during the 2024-25 campaign.

Buium won the 2024 NCAA National Title with the University of Denver and was named to the 2024 NCHC Second All-Star Team. He also won the 2022 NCAA National Title with Denver alongside Griffins teammates Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto. Buium, the 36^th overall pick by the Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, recently completed his third season at the University of Denver, totaling a career-high 36 points (7-29—36) and a plus-33 rating in 43 games. His 36 points in 2023-24 ranked eighth in the NCAA among defensemen and his 29 assists tied for sixth. The 21-year-old won consecutive regular-season NCHC titles from 2021-23 and was named to the 2022 NCHC All-Rookie Team. As a Pioneer from 2021-24, Buium logged 75 points (14-61—75), 44 penalty minutes and a plus-61 rating in 120 appearances. The 6-foot-3 defenseman spent two campaigns in the USHL with Sioux City and notched 27 points (4-23—27) in 53 contests from 2019-21. The San Diego, California, native spent much of his youth career with Shattuck-St. Mary’s School from 2017-21 and registered 116 points (27-89—116) in 146 games between its U14, U16 and Prep teams.

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information. Single-game tickets for the Griffins’ 2023-24 season can be purchased through griffinshockey.com/tickets.