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Buium is the first Israeli to play in the NHL and the youngest player on Team USA.
By Shula Rosen
For the first time in 92 years, Team USA won the Ice Hockey World Championship, thanks in large part to a star Israeli player.
Ze’ev Buium, 19, stunned and delighted hockey fans as the first player in the history of the Minnesota Wild team to make his National Hockey League (NHL) debut in the playoffs.
He is also the first Israeli to join the NHL and the youngest player.
Buium was born in San Diego to a couple from Ashdod. He was a decisive asset to Team USA with two assists and a critical goal in the 5–2 quarterfinal victory over Finland.
The Ice Hockey World Championship took place this year in Sweden and Denmark. In a tournament full of surprises, Canada made an unexpected early exit, while the United States pulled off a dramatic victory over host nation Sweden.
This set the stage for a tense final, where the Americans narrowly defeated Switzerland 1–0 in overtime, redeeming themselves after a 0–3 loss to the Swiss in the group stage.
The fact that the US did not win the championship is surprising, especially given the sport’s popularity in America and the fact that the tournament is held yearly.
Despite not winning the championship in 1980, Team USA gave a legendary performance against the Soviet Union, which became known as the “Miracle on Ice.”
Although American players are highly esteemed, the US often takes a back seat in hockey to Canada, Russia, the Czech Republic, and the Scandinavian countries.
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