Signed, and Staying

Sixth Former James Buchan has a future with the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Petes — but he wants to graduate from St. Paul’s School first.

BY IAN ALDRICH

In late August, just two weeks before classes resumed at St. Paul’s School, James Buchan ’27 stepped onto the ice for a training camp session with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, one of North America’s top proving grounds for 16- to 20-year-old players and among the most direct routes to the National Hockey League (NHL).

For the Ontario-born Buchan, the path to training camp wasn’t smooth. He’d battled injuries and endured two springs of draft-day disappointment before breaking out in his first season with St. Paul’s: four goals and 19 assists as a new Fifth Former, most among the team’s defensemen. His play caught the attention of the Petes, who invited him to a development camp in June. Then came an invitation to training camp, where Buchan played in three preseason games and impressed the team’s coaching staff. On Sept. 10, as he was still settling into his Sixth Form year at St. Paul’s, the Petes signed Buchan to a development contract.

In the aftermath of the deal, team officials praised Buchan not just for his talent but for his work ethic and self-awareness. “Over the course of the summer he put a lot of work in to be ready physically to come in and make the impression he did,” Petes general manager and vice president of operations Mike Oke told the Peterborough Examiner. “He understands where he needs to continue to grow his game. He’s a real strong, legitimate prospect for the future.”

Buchan felt ready, too.

“Training camp was super fun because I knew I was ready for it,” he says. “I wasn’t nervous and I just love playing. And it was just cool to have that experience, to wear the jersey and be given all the bells and whistles. It brings me one step closer to where I want to be.”

Which is the NHL. First, though, comes one more season with the Big Red. Buchan could have returned to Ontario to finish high school and play with the Petes this season, but loyalty to his teammates and Head Coach Scott Harff ’08 won out. He’ll suit up for the Petes full-time after graduation.

“My welcome-to-the-school moment was in Algebra 2 last year. All of a sudden there were all these kids raising their hands, answering the questions — you could tell that everyone just wanted to be here. It was eye-opening to be at a school with so many motivated people.”

— James Buchan ’27

“From the moment I met Coach Harff, he believed in me,” says Buchan. “He and Coach [Danny] Murphy pushed me and set me up so I could play at the next level. The moment I stepped back on campus I was just so happy to be back here. To know I’d be playing with those guys again and to make a push for a championship. There’s a lot to look forward to.”

Buchan’s commitments to SPS extend beyond the rink. In the short time he’s been at the School, Buchan has made himself an indispensable part of campus life. He’s a leader in the Canadian Society, whose members celebrate their home country with different events throughout the year, which included last year’s humorous chapel skit about—what else?—Canadians’ love of hockey. He’s the head of Athletes for Christ, a prefect in Drury, and will captain this year’s boys tennis team in the spring.

“My welcome-to-the-school moment was in Algebra 2 last year,” says Buchan. “All of a sudden there were all these kids raising their hands, answering the questions — you could tell that everyone just wanted to be here. It was eye-opening to be at a school with so many motivated people.”

Buchan counts himself among them.

“Everything I do is motivated toward how can I become a better hockey player,” he says. “Not only on the ice, but also in the classroom, when I’m making decisions about going to the gym, when I’m eating food. It’s these little details that I’m always thinking about.” He laughs. “It’s made me the person I am.”

One day, that person may very well be an NHL player.