Last month, Cape Breton University hosted a celebration of life for the man who introduced the name of Capers & the colours of green & orange for its teams when St. Francis Xavier University Sydney & Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology merged 50 years ago.

On September 21st, friends and family gathered on campus in Sydney, Nova Scotia to remember former athletic director Dr. Carl "Bucky" Buchanan who left this world on September 12th at the age of 82. Buchanan referred to himself as a "come-from-away" Cape Bretoner and called the island home for over a half century.

The Sussex, NB native established roots on Cape Breton Island when he became Xavier's first athletic director in 1968.  At the time, he coached hockey and soccer, ran the intramural program and taught three courses.  Sport venues were off campus and competition against colleges was non existent.

Through Buchanan's efforts, the athletics program grew from very humble beginnings to one of the most recognizable in the nation. Xavier became a member of the Nova Scotia Colleges Conference shortly after his arrival. He was a delegate at the first official meeting of what was to become the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association in 1973. He oversaw the merger of athletic programs when the College of Cape Breton was established in 1974 and assumed the role of athletic director at the newly formed post-secondary institution. He played a key role in bringing the first Canadian Colleges Athletic Association National Hockey Championship to the Sydney Forum in 1975. He was at the helm when the Capers transitioned from college to university sport in 1987.

Buchanan also created win-win situations for the campus and the community.  He was President and Chief Executive Officer of the 1987 Canada Games after working on the successful bid seven years earlier. Following the games, facilities including the Sullivan Field House and the Canada Games Complex were utilized as home venues for the Capers.

Buchanan was also involved with provincial and national governing bodies. He held numerous positions on the executive of Hockey Nova Scotia and became a Life Member of the organization. He served on committees established by Hockey Canada and became the first of two CCAA National Hockey Champion coaches to receive the Gordon Juckes Award in 1996. He was Sydney Chair of the 2003 IIHF World Men's Junior Hockey Championships.

Though Buchanan coached many sports, his most memorable experiences occurred behind the bench of the varsity hockey team.  He was honoured with the CCAA Coaching Award of Excellence in 1986.  He guided the team to a record 12 championships at the provincial level and five podium finishes in an unmatched nine appearances at the national level. The 1977-78 College of Cape Breton Capers became the first post secondary hockey team from the Atlantic Provinces to win a national title when they upset the Red Deer College Kings 5-4 in overtime at the 1978 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association National Hockey Championship finale.

Buchanan entered the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2015 and the CBU Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. The CBU Sports Hall of Fame was renamed the Dr. Carl "Bucky" Buchanan Capers Hall of Fame in 2023.

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