NCHC Suspends Denver’s Buium, North Dakota’s Emery One Game -- Thoughts

As the game clock clicked to zero on Saturday, things got heated between Denver and North Dakota. It was not surprising; it had been a hard-fought series. After beating UND 4-0 the night before, the Fighting Hawks showed they still had some fight. As the final seconds ticked off of the clock, UND had won game two 3-1; all the players on the ice, minus Denver's goalie, participated in a post-game melee. While the players were locked up, Denver's all-American D-man Zeev Buium and UND D-man EJ Emery engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Yes, it was a fight; both players had dropped the gloves, lost the helmets, and threw punches. After Saturday's game, the box score had posted this.

Old time hockey coach. That is an impressive box score. From the end of the UND vs. DU game. pic.twitter.com/E5iVtj8gBF

— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) February 16, 2025

You had to know this incident would be reviewed by the league. The NCAA doesn't allow fighting, and they had to address this incident. It doesn't reflect well on the NCHC if they had let this one go. Below is the release by the NCHC. 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) has issued a one-game suspension to both Denver sophomore defenseman Zeev Buium and North Dakota freshman defenseman EJ Emery, in accordance with the conference’s supplemental discipline policy, the NCHC announced on Monday, Feb. 17. The suspensions stem from an altercation between the two on the ice following the Pioneers and Fighting Hawks game last Saturday night, Feb. 15 at Magness Arena in Denver. At the conclusion of Saturday night’s game, Buium and Emery were each assessed a roughing minor and given a 10-minute misconduct penalty at 20:00 of the third period. Buium and Emery will be required to serve their one-game suspension during their team’s next game. Buium will be suspended for Denver’s game at Miami this Friday, Feb. 21, while Emery will miss UND’s series opener against Minnesota Duluth this coming Friday. Both are eligible to return for their team’s series finale on Saturday, Feb. 22. 

 Here it is for the two people who haven't seen the video. Stick Tap, @ElFrijolBlanco.

Two NHL first rounders, UND's Emery (NYR) & Denver's Buium (MIN) suspended one game for scrap at the end of Saturdays game. pic.twitter.com/25b80Hwa8k

— 𝗘𝗙𝗕 (@ElFrijolBlanco) February 17, 2025

Finally, it was good to see Emery sticking up for a teammate; he showed Buium and his teammates that he wouldn't accept opposing players' cheap shooting or taking runs from his teammates.