Brandon Bussi
American ice hockey player (born 1998)

Ice hockey player
Brandon Bussi
Bussi at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1998-06-25) June 25, 1998 (age 27)
Sound Beach, New York, U.S
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Right
NHL team Carolina Hurricanes
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2022–present

Brandon Bussi (born June 25, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for Western Michigan University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Playing career

Collegiate

Bussi committed to playing college ice hockey for the Western Michigan University during the 2019–20 season.

In the 2021–22 season, Bussi helped the Broncos win their first-ever game in the NCAA tournament, making 30 saves in a 2–1 overtime win over Northeastern University.[1] Western Michigan ended up getting eliminated the next round by the University of Minnesota.

Professional

Boston Bruins

On March 30, 2022, the Boston Bruins announced that Bussi would forgo his senior year to sign a one-year, entry-level contract with the team.[2] He would play the rest of the season with the Boston's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins. He appeared in five games with the team, recording a 3–2–0 record with a shutout.

Bussi had a very successful first full season with the Providence Bruins. As a rookie, he finished the 2022–23 season sixth in the league among goalies in goals against average (GAA) with 2.40 and second in the league in save percentage (SV%), with .924. Bussi's play got him named to the 2023 AHL All-Star Game, representing the Atlantic Division.[3] On April 12, 2023, Bussi was recalled to the NHL squad for an emergency recall.[4] Although he dressed as the backup, he did not play, and was sent back down shortly after. Bussi was named to the AHL's All-Rookie Team at season's end.[5]

On June 19, 2023, the Bruins announced that they had extended Bussi to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.[6]

Bussi's successful first season had him penciled in as Providence's starting goaltender for the 2023–24 season. Although with the increased responsibility, Bussi's statistics dipped a little, he still had a successful season, starting 41 games and going 23–10–5. Throughout the season, Bussi was occasionally called up to the NHL team on an emergency basis, due to injuries to Boston's goaltenders Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. However, Bussi only served as a backup for those games, and did not see NHL action on any of these call-ups. At season's end, for the second consecutive year, the Providence Bruins were set to face the Hartford Wolf Pack in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Bussi would start all four games, registering a shutout in Providence's 6–0 game 2 win. However, this would be the only win of the series for Bussi and the Bruins, as they would fall in four games, with the final two losses going to overtime.

On June 24, 2024, the Bruins announced that they had once again extended Bussi to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.[7]

Bussi started the 2024–25 opening game for the Providence Bruins, a 5–2 loss against the Laval Rocket, which saw him let up five goals. As the season progressed, although their starts were mostly even, Bussi lost out on the starting goaltender job to fellow goaltender Michael DiPietro due to play. Bussi's season was very up-and-down, as he recorded a career-high five shutouts throughout the season, but also had five games where he allowed five or more goals, also a career-high. DiPietro earned the starting nod for the 2025 Calder Cup playoffs over Bussi. However, in the early minutes of game 4 of the divisional round against the Charlotte Checkers, DiPietro was injured, forcing Bussi to come in and try to earn the win to stave off elimination. Bussi would make 31 saves on 33 shots as the Bruins beat the Checkers in overtime to force a decisive game 5. Bussi would get the nod in game 5, however the Bruins could not muster any offensive play, getting only eight shots on goal in a 5–2 loss, ending their season.

Carolina Hurricanes

On July 1, 2025, after three years in the Bruins organization, Bussi signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Florida Panthers.[8] However, just three months later, on October 5, Bussi was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.[9]

Bussi was named to the Hurricanes' opening night roster for the 2025–26 season, filling in for the injured Pyotr Kochetkov.[10] Bussi made his NHL debut on October 14, 2025, against the San Jose Sharks, earning a 5–1 victory.[11] He found early success with the Hurricanes, becoming the first NHL goaltender in history to win 10 games in his first 11 appearances.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2018-19 Muskegon Lumberjacks USHL 52 33 12 4 2,824 115 7 2.44 .915 8 4 4 474 20 1 2.53 .894
2019–20 Western Michigan University NCHC 34 18 12 4 1,922 85 0 2.65 .910 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Western Michigan University NCHC 4 2 1 0 211 10 0 2.84 .889 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Western Michigan University NCHC 39 26 12 1 2,334 99 4 2.55 .912 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Providence Bruins AHL 5 3 2 0 307 13 1 2.54 .920 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Maine Mariners ECHL 4 3 1 0 240 10 0 2.50 .922 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Providence Bruins AHL 32 22 5 4 1,879 75 1 2.40 .924 4 1 3 237 9 0 2.28 .926
2023–24 Providence Bruins AHL 41 23 10 5 2,403 107 1 2.67 .913 4 1 3 252 9 1 2.14 .922
2024–25 Providence Bruins AHL 33 15 14 4 1,905 88 5 2.77 .907 2 1 1 124 5 0 2.42 .918
AHL totals 111 63 31 13 6,494 283 8 2.62 .915 10 3 7 613 23 1 2.25 .923

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2023
All-Star Game 2023

References

  1. ^ "Box Score - College Hockey, Inc". collegehockeyinc.com.
  2. ^ "Boston Bruins Sign Brandon Bussi to One-Year, Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com. 30 March 2022.
  3. ^ Bruins, Providence. "BUSSI AND LETTIERI NAMED TO ATLANTIC DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM". www.providencebruins.com.
  4. ^ "Bruins Recall Brandon Bussi On Emergency Basis". NHL.com. 12 April 2023.
  5. ^ Bruins, Providence. "BUSSI, MERKULOV NAMED TO AHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM". www.providencebruins.com.
  6. ^ "Bruins sign Brandon Bussi to one-year, two-way contract extension". Boston Bruins. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Bruins re-sign goaltender Brandon Bussi to one-year, two-way extension". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Goaltender Brandon Bussi on One-Year, Two-Way Contract". NHL.com. 1 July 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Canes Acquire Brandon Bussi Off Waivers". Carolina Hurricanes. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  10. ^ Henkel, Ryan (7 October 2025). "The Carolina Hurricanes finalize their Opening Night roster without any surprises". The Hockey News. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  11. ^ Alexander, Chip (15 October 2025). "How Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi's life changed with one phone call". Raleigh News and Observer. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi becomes fastest goalie to reach 10 wins". Sportsnet.ca. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
  • Brandon Bussi profile and statistics at TheAHL.com
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