Before playing in the NHL, Buchanan played 49 games with the Galt Black Hawks of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and 2 games with the St. Louis Flyers of the American Hockey League (AHL). Buchanan played in his first and only game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1951-52 season. He scored no points. Buchanan spent 2 years playing for the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League (IHL) and decided to enroll at the University of Michigan where he played for the Wolverines for two years. During his time there, he was named to the NCAA West First All-American Team. He retired from playing hockey in 1954. He came out of retirement to play a season with the Wembley Lions of the British National League (BNL) before he retired again in 1958.