Another honour for ‘Bucky’
Buchanan to be inducted into Capers Hall of Fame as builder, coach of ’78 hockey team
When Dr. Carl (Bucky) Buchanan was hired as the director of athletics in 1968 at the former Xavier College, now known as Cape Breton University, he was faced with a major task.
“When I interviewed for the job, I was asked if I could plan an athletic facility – Sullivan Field House,” said Buchanan, sitting on the back step of his Albert Bridge home.
“I’ve had lots of help and good cooperation from a coaching staff and athletic point of view. It was a team effort for sure getting the facilities.”
The 76-year-old Buchanan will be honoured as one of the first inductees into the Capers Hall of Fame. The 197778 Capers men’s hockey team, a club coached by Buchanan, will also be inducted. The induction ceremony will be held Sept. 17 as part of the inaugural Cape Breton University President’s Leadership Dinner.
Over time, Cape Breton University’s athletic facilities have grown with the building of the Canada Games Complex for the 1987 Canada Winter Games, and renovations to the soccer field and the construction of the Cape Breton Health Recreation Complex and dome.
“I think without question we (Cape Breton University) have as good as athletic facilities as anywhere in Canada and I think our athletes appreciate that,” said Buchanan.
“I think they’ve been very successful in having a lot of athletes come here that maybe wouldn’t have without the facilities as well as with good coaching.”
Prior to taking the role as athletic director, Buchanan, originally of Sussex, N.B., was coaching soccer and swimming at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. He had also coached hockey and soccer at the University of Tennessee.
When he arrived in Cape Breton, Buchanan wasn’t only faced with the challenge of erecting new athletic facilities, but also coaching several teams as well.
“I was the only coach on campus in terms of a faculty member,” laughed Buchanan. “I coached soccer, hockey, baseball and basketball my first year and ran a program and taught three courses, so I was very busy the first year.”
Although successful in coaching all sports, Buchanan’s fame came behind the bench of the Capers hockey team.
“I can remember looking at where our team would play, and we ended up in the Eastern Junior Hockey League with North Sydney, Sydney and Glace Bay,” said Buchanan.
“We didn’t have a provincial athletic organization and I was lucky enough to be a founder of the Nova Scotia college conference (now known as the Atlantic University Sport).”
The Capers would continue to play in the junior league, while also playing in the college league, which Buchanan believes was beneficial for his players. The team later went on to play in the senior league, gaining experience for what later would be national championships.
In 1977-78, the Capers men’s hockey team defeated the Red Deer College Kings of Alberta 5-4 to capture the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association hockey championship in Montreal.
“The team will always have a special place in my heart,” said Buchanan. “Forty years have gone pretty quick, but I keep in contact with my former players.”
The Capers Hall of Fame won’t be the first hall of fame Buchanan will be a part of.
Buchanan was inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also inducted in the Cape Breton Horsemen Hall of Fame and in 2015 was the first coach to be inducted into the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Despite not attending all of the university’s athletic program games anymore, Buchanan still follows the school’s teams closely.
“They are all excellent athletes,” said Buchanan. “I try to get to as many games as I can to support them – it’s important to me.”
Looking back, Buchanan never expected his dedication to the university and sports to be recognized.
“At the time you’re coaching and you’re so busy, you don’t give that a lot of thought to be honest with you,” said Buchanan. “I will say that it’s nice to be recognized and I appreciate it.”