Michael Buenzow ’24 is a three-year Senior and co-captain of Boys Varsity Hockey from Evanston, Illinois. He led defensemen this year with 3 goals and 8 assists, totaling 11 points. Next year, Buenzow will play Division 3 Hockey at Colby College. Teammate Brady Kim ’26 said, “He is a lockdown defender who shuts plays down and works hard. He is a great leader and captain in the locker room who has helped the team become closer.”
Head Coach Mike Doyle said, “Michael is a strong, shut-down defenseman who has a good skating ability which will transition nicely to the college game at Colby. He is a leader by example and someone everyone looks up to as a role model both on and off the ice. His presence on campus and in our locker room will surely be missed.”
Can you tell me a little about your background playing hockey?
I started playing when I was six years old for the Mite House league team, and I slowly worked my way up to AAA [the highest level of youth hockey in the US]. I was actually the last cut on my AAA team.
Then I went to Mission, another AAA team, for four years, and developed my skills. After the U-15 year, I decided to come to Hotchkiss.
Why did you choose Hotchkiss to continue your journey?
A lot of my former teammates opted to play junior Hockey, but I really wanted to stay in school while continuing my hockey career. So that’s why I chose to come out east and play at a prep school.
Hotchkiss drew me in due to its academic reputation, and I liked Coach Mike Traggio a lot when he toured me around the athletic facilities.
Who were some of your role models during your time playing for the school?
The captains of my sophomore year: Luke Johnson ’22, Chuck Kerrigan ’22, and Nate Brockington ’22. They were great leaders on and off the ice. They really cared about the hockey program and showed that in how they worked. They showed up every single day in practice.
What would you say is your favorite memory playing hockey here?
Winning the Kent Cup last year. It was fun going into the Snack Bar and eating cereal out of the trophy.
You recently committed to Colby College; what made you choose them?
When I visited Colby, I was blown away by the brand new athletic facility there. It’s basically a D1 facility for a small D3 NESCAC school. I really liked the coach, Blaise MacDonald, the team culture, how the team trains, and the friendships among the members of the hockey team. I met a couple of current players during my visit and they made some convincing arguments to come to Colby.
Do you have any advice for younger hockey players?
Consistency is key. You can’t train just when you feel like it. You need to train every single day and maintain the same intensity every single day. It has to happen if you want to get to the next level.
Routine is one of the most underrated things when it comes to hockey. You need to have a good routine before every single game, so you’re ready to go when you step onto the ice for that first shift.
