Like many other young athletes growing up in Nepean, Ontario, Kyle Buchanan naturally came from a hockey and baseball family. He spent years playing these sports before a friend introduced him to lacrosse.
“I was around 10 years old. He was wearing a lacrosse T-shirt and I just was curious about it,” Buchanan said.
After learning more about the sport and finding out his uncles had played when they were younger, Buchanan decided to try it out, and never looked back.
“I loved the speed and the excitement and the scoring and the physicality of it,” he said. “I fell in love right away.”
At just 5-foot-8, the forward looked up to other smaller, right-handed forwards who he could model his game after. For him, that person was Jeff Zywicki, who had a storied career in both the NCAA and NLL.
After Buchanan finished his collegiate career at Robert Morris in 2012, he entered the NLL Draft and was selected with the first pick of the sixth round by the Washington Stealth.
“Funny story, I actually ended up beating out Jeff Zywicki for the final roster spot on that team, which was kind of crazy,” he said. “It kind of came full circle.”
After playing in only nine games during his rookie season, Buchanan turned to advice he had received from his uncles and cousins while growing up: be a good teammate and lead with your effort.
Now in his 10th season in the NLL, the 35-year-old returns for his second season with the Bandits following stints with the Stealth, Philadelphia Wings, New England Black Wolves, and San Diego Seals.
Buchanan has been all over the lacrosse world but has never seen anything quite like Banditland.
“I think it’s just something that really separates Buffalo from some other teams, that you know what you’re going to get every single night running out onto the floor,” he said. “You hear the bagpipes, all that kind of stuff. There are just these traditions here that make it a special place.”
In his first year with the organization, Buchanan tallied 19 goals and 57 points while collecting 81 loose balls. He also ranked third on the team with 38 assists during the 2021-22 campaign.
Last Saturday, he recorded two goals and two assists in the home opener to kick off the 2022-23 season.
For Buchanan, signing in Buffalo was the perfect opportunity to play close to his two young daughters, play with his best friend (former Bandit Kevin Brownell), and play for a historic franchise.
“I was on the other side of it for so many years and got to play one or two games (in Buffalo), had some family and friends in town, and it was really cool,” he said.
Today, Buchanan looks forward to seeing friends and family at almost every home game.
“My wife was at the home opener,” Buchanan said. “Usually, we have some family and friends at every home game, if not, every other home game, throughout the season.
“So that’s been really nice to share that with them and my oldest daughter, as well, kind of understands that Dad is out there running around. That’s been a pretty special thing for me share over the last two years.”
After playing in over 150 career contests, including 13 playoff games, Buchanan is grateful for his time spent in the league and envisions himself behind the bench when his time is up as a player.
“I think I have, hopefully, a couple good years left as a player. I’ve been fortunate enough to play a decade, which is crazy,” he chuckled. “But I certainly am thinking about what those next steps look like.
“I do see myself as a coach in this league down the road and would love that to be in Buffalo or any other organization historic like this. I definitely want to stick around in the league for a long time.”
The Bandits are back in action on Saturday when they face the Toronto Rock at FirstOntaro Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Faceoff is at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.