Gryphon Gallery: David Brumby – A Journey that Followed his Childhood Dream

David Keith Brumby passed away far too early on June 5th 2024 after a courageous and inspiring battle with cancer. It was that same courage and inspiration that David showed throughout his life, especially when considering his wonderful career in ice hockey. David was passionate about the game, a passion he demonstrated at school, often coming with his goalie equipment to play at recess or in the gym playing floor hockey. He attended Glenlyon/GNS from 1981-1989. A good student, hard-working, goal-oriented – qualities he always took on to the ice.

David played out of the Racquet Club and started his Junior career with Tri-City Americans in 1992. It was a career that took him to seventeen different teams, in the WHL, AHL, IHL, Roller Hockey International League, NHL and ECHL.

After a successful Junior career, he was initially drafted #201 by Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL Entry Draft, but spent much of his playing career in lower leagues, honing his skills and always passionately giving his best.

When asked about his greatest hockey achievement, Brumby lists the 1998/1999 AHL Calder Cup.  Dressing as John Grahame’s backup, he helped the Providence Bruins win the championship that season. In that same season, he won Goaltender of the Month in October 1998 in the ECHL, an award he also won in November in the following season. He also won the ECHL Goaltender of the Week three times in the 1999-00 season and once in the 2001-02 season. In 1999-00, he led the ECHL in shutouts with 7 and again attracted the attention of NHL scouts. Early in June, 2000 David Brumby, a free agent, became the first ever goalie signed by the newly minted Minnesota Wild franchise.  

In Mid-November 2000, Brumby was recalled by the Wild to serve as Manny Fernedez’s backup while Jamie McLennan recovered from a minor arm injury. McLennan only missed 1 game, Brumby’s only stint in the NHL while proudly wearing the #30 jersey. He was not re-signed by the Wild and played in the ECHL until his retirement from the Victoria Salmon Kings in 2005.

Brumby later spent some time as a goalie coach in the BCHL with the Victoria Grizzlies, in the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons.

During his career with an overall average of 0.89, David was recognised with six hockey cards, one of which is shown at the top of this page. As sad and tragic  as his passing has been, what a lucky man to have enjoyed such a storied hockey career doing what he was so passionate about.