Staum is a complete defenseman, though we’d call him an offensive-defenseman before a defensive guy. He loves to carry the puck from behind his own goal through neutral ice into the attacking zone. While that won’t always work at the next level, he does have the smarts to make a strong tape-to-tape breakout pass when coverage dictates. He’s an excellent skater with a smooth stride and moves well in all four directions. Staum utilizes his excellent edge work to effortlessly maneuver around would-be checkers through the neutral zone. He quarterbacks a good power play, getting shots through and finding teammates’ sticks for tips and redirects. While he prefers to rely on his strong stick in the defensive end, Staum does not hesitate to engage physically. However, he can tend to find trouble by looking to make huge hits, which takes him out of the play. He sees the ice very well and always has his head up. He has a lanky frame with plenty of room to add muscle. Staum committed to Nebraska Omaha recently. He missed over half the season with a broken foot, but returned to lead Hill Murray in the section playoffs. He returned to high school this year as he was voted captain and wanted to lead the Pioneers back to the state tournament. That obviously did not happen, but it speaks volumes of his character and team spirit. Staum is a steadying presence who logs huge minutes on the back end in all situations.   (May 2016)