Union College Men’s Hockey: Cousins Josh Nixon and Lucas Buziol on Being Teammates

Nixon, a fourth-year forward, and Buziol, a freshman forward, are looking forward to being teammates for at least one more season.

“We played a little pickup hockey for a couple years when we were really young,” Buziol said Monday at Union Hockey Media Day at Messa Rink. “Then as we got older, (it) went away. It’s going to be special to have the opportunity to play at Union.”

Nixon was also delighted.

“We live two minutes away from each other,” Nixon said. “So we skate together sometimes in the summer, like we did in junior hockey. Like he said, it’s a very special opportunity for us to finally play together.”

Union head coach Josh Hauge recruited both players at the same time. While Hauge recruited Buziol as he prepared to play junior hockey, Nixon was in the NCAA transfer portal after leaving Lake Superior State following the 2021-22 season.

“It’s kind of funny,” Hauge said. “They both came to visit the university at the same time, which is a bit different. I don’t think that would normally happen.

“I think Lucas really committed first, and that’s why I think he helped bring Josh in. Their family is really great. So it’s important to bring them back, to bring those two back, and just to give them some kind of intimacy.”

Buziol and Nixon confirmed Hauge’s statement.

“We visited the school together, and I came home that weekend and talked to my family and I said, ‘Yeah, I can imagine myself here for four years,’” Buziol said. “So I made up my mind, and then I pushed him. He was thinking about it. I said, ‘If I go there, I want you there.’ And we’re going to be together for a year. So of course I did my job and pushed him to get the right position.”

“I was in the transfer portal and I knew he actually had a chance to come here,” Nixon said. “So (I was) like, ‘Let’s do it 100 percent.’ I always had this in my mind that this could actually happen and we could actually play together. It would be really special.

“He committed here a week or two before me. And he gave me a little bit of influence and a little push. So, I’m glad I chose here.”

Nixon was the Union’s third-leading scorer last season with nine goals and 18 assists. In two seasons with the Garnett Chargers, Nixon recorded 20 goals and 23 assists.

Buziol came to the Union from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the British Columbia Hockey League. He recorded eight goals and nine assists in 47 games. He tied for first as the team’s leading scorer with two goals. Buziol recorded four goals and five assists in 18 BCHL playoff games.

In 2022-23, Buzziol played for the Milton Menace of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He was the team’s second-leading scorer with 23 goals and 31 assists in 45 games. Buziol led the team with eight power-play goals.

The two cousins described each other’s playing styles.

“Luke is a power forward,” Nixon said. “He’s a big guy. He’s a good net-front guy, a good passer. We need him to score some goals this year, that’s for sure.”

“Speed. Speed is killer,” Buziol said. “That’s the first thing you see when you watch him play. He’s a finisher. He’s good on the power play, (and) a great special teams player. He’s been a big player here the last two years. He’s going to be a big player for them this year, so we’re going to rely on him a lot. And with (his) speed, we’re going to expect a lot of goals this year.”

Hauge expects Nixon to not only help Buziol transition from junior hockey to college hockey, but also help all new players.

“It’s a big adjustment for everyone,” Hauge said. “I expect Josh to help everyone and show them the way. And he’s a guy who can create with his feet and speed, and Lucas is a little bit different. I think they can both help each other out. Lucas is more of a puck protector and can be really strong defensively in faceoffs. I think they complement each other well, but they’re really different players.”