The Coventry Blaze have completed the signing of Artem Buzoberya, with the Ukrainian forward joining the Elite League side from Bentley University.
Buzoberya arrives in the West Midlands after five seasons in the NCAA, a collegiate career spanning four third division campaigns at Hobart College and a final flourish with the first division Bentley Flacons.
The Kharkiv-born centreman recorded 70 points (20 goals, 50 assists) in 90 NCAA III appearances, before closing out his time in North America with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 32 outings for Bentley.
“Artem is a big, strong presence on the ice who plays a smart, heavy game,” Coventry head coach Kevin Moore said of the 25-year-old.
“He protects the puck exceptionally well and makes plays under pressure. He’s responsible in all three zones and defends hard down low, which will make him a key piece in our structure.
“We’re looking forward to the impact he’ll have on both ends of the ice this season.”
Buzoberya, who won back-to-back NCAA III national championships with the Hobart Statesmen, starred for Ukraine at the 2019 Under-20s Division 1B World Championship, recording four assists in five games.
Analysis: Coventry Blaze offset Nick Seitz’s departure with Artem Buzoberya signing
The Coventry Blaze aren’t afraid of rolling the dice on NCAA III prospects, with former Hobart Statesman Artem Buzoberya the latest to join Kevin Moore’s project at the Skydome Arena.
Artem Buzoberya, Coventry Blaze (Image: NCAA)
The Ukrainian arrives in Coventry during a moment of transition for the Blaze, with leading scorers Chase Gresock, Nick Seitz, and Michael Regush departing in free agency.
While Buzoberya doesn’t have the obvious offensive upside of those three, he provides a clear and highly-valuable skillset to a team based in one of the Elite League’s smallest rinks.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Buzoberya is face-off circle fiend, winning 57.4 percent of his draws in the NCAA’s top-flight.
With that in mind, the former Sid Watson Award nominee projects as a middle-six centreman for the Blaze.
Unlikely to catch fire offensively, Buzoberya plays a solid, two-way style that will shutdown the Elite League’s less physically gifted lines — which is exactly what Moore expects from his second and third line centres.
Blaze fans shouldn’t expect their latest recruit to step into the line-up and replace Sheffield-bound Nick Seitz’s offensive production.
But Buzoberya’s appeal is clear — and his arrival improves Coventry’s physical credentials during an offseason that has seen the Elite League’s bottom six teams add size and meanness to the mix.
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