Ron Busniuk

Ron Busniuk
Born (1948-08-13)August 13, 1948
Fort William, Ontario, Canada
Died March 8, 2024(2024-03-08) (aged 75)
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Minnesota Fighting Saints
New England Whalers
Edmonton Oilers
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1970–1978

Ronald Edward Busniuk (August 13, 1948 – March 8, 2024) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played six games in the National Hockey League, all with the Buffalo Sabres, during 1973 and 1974.[1] Busniuk then moved to the WHA, playing a total of four full seasons with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers and Edmonton Oilers between 1974 and 1978. Before turning professional Busniuk played NCAA hockey for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and was an All-American his senior year.[2] After graduation, he played in the AHL with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs and the Cincinnati Swords. He was named to the AHL First All-Star Team.

After retiring as a player, Busniuk became a coach. He led the Thunder Bay Twins Senior Hockey Team to two consecutive championships in the 1980s.[2] He was later inducted into the Northern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Minnesota Duluth Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]

Ron Busniuk was the older brother of Mike Busniuk, who also played in the NHL. Ron Busniuk died in Thunder Bay on March 8, 2024, at the age of 75.[3]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1964–65 Fort William Kings TBAHA
1964–65 Fort William Canadiens TBJHL 4 1 0 1 0
1965–66 Fort William Canadiens TBJHL 30 15 17 42 28
1966–67 Fort William Canadiens M-Cup 16 9 11 20 41
1967–68 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 28 10 10 20 39
1968–69 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 29 7 20 27 16
1969–70 University of Minnesota-Duluth WCHA 28 8 20 28 73
1970–71 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 59 11 9 20 136 3 0 1 1 10
1971–72 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 67 13 13 26 133 15 3 5 8 74
1972–73 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1 0 0 0 9
1972–73 Cincinnati Swords AHL 71 5 34 39 205 15 1 7 8 39
1973–74 Buffalo Sabres NHL 5 0 3 3 4
1973–74 Cincinnati Swords AHL 68 7 24 31 146 5 1 1 2 8
1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 73 2 21 23 176 12 2 1 3 63
1975–76 Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA 59 2 11 13 150
1975–76 New England Whalers WHA 11 0 3 3 55 17 0 2 2 14
1975–76 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 1 0 0 0 4
1976–77 New England Whalers WHA 55 1 9 10 141
1976–77 Edmonton Oilers WHA 29 2 2 4 83 5 0 2 2 37
1977–78 Edmonton Oilers WHA 59 2 18 20 157 5 0 0 0 18
WHA totals 286 9 64 73 762 39 2 5 7 132
NHL totals 6 0 3 3 13

Awards and honours

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Award Year
All-WCHA First Team 1969–70
AHCA West All-American 1969–70

References

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  1. ^ "Ron Busniuk". Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association. Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c "Ron Busniuk". Legends of the Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  3. ^ Ronald Businiuk obituary
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