{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1998)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = Brandon Bussi | image = 2023 AHL All-Star Classic Game - Brandon Bussi (52674024664).jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Bussi at the 2023 AHL All-Star Game | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|6|25}} | birth_place = Sound Beach, New York, U.S | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 209 | position = Goaltender | catches = Right | league = NHL | team = Carolina Hurricanes | draft = Undrafted | career_start = 2022 | career_end = }} '''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 Broncos 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collegehockeyinc.com/box/final/20220325/noe/wmu/m/|title=Box Score - College Hockey, Inc.|website=collegehockeyinc.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/boston-bruins-sign-brandon-bussi-to-one-year-entry-level-contract/c-332442260|title=Boston Bruins Sign Brandon Bussi to One-Year, Entry-Level Contract|website=NHL.com |date=March 30, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.providencebruins.com/news/detail/bussi-and-lettieri-named-to-atlantic-division-all-star-team|title=BUSSI AND LETTIERI NAMED TO ATLANTIC DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM|first=Providence|last=Bruins|website=www.providencebruins.com}}</ref> On April 12, 2023, Bussi was recalled to the NHL squad for an emergency recall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-recall-brandon-bussi-on-emergency-basis/c-343440908|title=Bruins Recall Brandon Bussi On Emergency Basis|website=NHL.com |date=April 12, 2023}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.providencebruins.com/news/detail/bussi-merkulov-named-to-ahl-all-rookie-team|title=BUSSI, MERKULOV NAMED TO AHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM|first=Providence|last=Bruins|website=www.providencebruins.com}}</ref>
On June 19, 2023, the Bruins announced that they had extended Bussi to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-sign-brandon-bussi-to-one-year-two-way-contract-extension/c-344932366 | title = Bruins sign Brandon Bussi to one-year, two-way contract extension | publisher = Boston Bruins | date = June 19, 2023 | accessdate = June 19, 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruins re-sign goaltender Brandon Bussi to one-year, two-way extension |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/bruins-re-sign-goaltender-brandon-bussi-to-one-year-two-way-extension/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |website=Sportsnet.ca}}</ref>
Bussi started the 2024–25 opening game for the Providence Bruins, a 5–2 loss against the Laval Rocket, which saw him give 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Goaltender Brandon Bussi on One-Year, Two-Way Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/florida-panthers-agree-to-terms-with-goaltender-brandon-bussi-on-one-year-two-way-contract |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=July 1, 2025}}</ref> However, just three months later, on October 5, Bussi was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/canes-acquire-brandon-bussi-off-waivers |title=Canes Acquire Brandon Bussi Off Waivers |website=Carolina Hurricanes |date=October 5, 2025 |access-date=October 5, 2025}}</ref>
Bussi was named to the Hurricanes' opening night roster for the 2025–26 season, filling in for the injured Pyotr Kochetkov.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henkel |first1=Ryan |title=The Carolina Hurricanes finalize their Opening Night roster without any surprises |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/hurricanes-reveal-2025-26-opening-season-roster |access-date=December 12, 2025 |website=The Hockey News |date=October 7, 2025}}</ref> Bussi made his NHL debut on October 14, 2025, against the San Jose Sharks, earning a 5–1 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Chip |date=October 15, 2025 |title=How Carolina Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi's life changed with one phone call |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article312486241.html |access-date=October 22, 2025 |website=Raleigh News and Observer}}</ref> On November 30, Bussi earned his first career shutout in a 1-0 overtime win against the Calgary Flames. Following a win over the Los Angeles Kings on February 1, 2026, Bussi won his 21st game, breaking an NHL record for the most wins by a goaltender through their first 25 games which was previously held by Andrew Hammond and Bill Durnan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-carolina-hurricanes-game-recap-february-1-2026 |title=Aho scores in OT, Hurricanes recover to defeat Kings |author=Kurt Dusterberg |date=February 1, 2026 |access-date=February 2, 2026}}</ref> On February 16, Bussi signed a three-year contract worth $5.7 million to stay with the Hurricanes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/brandon-bussi-signs-3-year-deal-with-carolina |title=Bussi signs 3-year, $5.7 million contract with Hurricanes |website=NHL.com |date=February 16, 2026 |access-date=February 16, 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:75%;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"|Regular season ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! W !! L !! OTL !! 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2025–26 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 39 || 31 || 6 || 2 || 2,361 || 97 || 2 || 2.47 || .894 | || || || || || || || |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"|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== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="3"|AHL |- | All-Rookie Team | 2023 |- | All-Star Game | 2023 | |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}} * {{AHL profile|9087}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bussi, Brandon}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:American ice hockey goaltenders Category:Carolina Hurricanes players Category:Maine Mariners (ECHL) players Category:Muskegon Lumberjacks players Category:Providence Bruins players Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players Category:Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey players