Ron Busniuk played his minor hockey in Fort William and was a member of the Canadiens of the TBJHL for three years in the mid 1960s. he enrolled at the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1967, but did not play as a freshman. However, he was called upon by the Canadiens to play for them in the 1967 Memorial Cup playoffs, eventually won by the Toronto Marlboros, who were led by the likes of junior stars Gerry Meehan, Brad Park, Mike Pelyk and Gord Davies.
After playing three years with of university hockey in the WCHA with Minnesota-Duluth, Busniuk joined the Montreal Voyageurs as a free agent, where he played 59 games in 1970-71. He scored 11 goals and 20 points in his rookie campaign. Busniuk moved with the franchise to Nova Scotia the following season where the club went on to win the AHL Calder Cup championship. He then moved on to the Cincinnati Swords in 1972-73, where he helped them to the Calder Cup championship. Busniuk was called up to play one game for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, and while he did not get on the scoresheet, he did collect nine minutes in penalties, with a fight and two minors.
Busniuk got the opportunity to play another five games in the NHL the following year with the Sabres, and scored three assists. Busniuk's last four years as a pro hockey player were spent in the WHA. In 1974-75, he joined the Minnesota Fighting Saints, where he remained for two seasons as the club's defensive specialist, being used primarily against the other team's top scorers. Midway through the 1975-76 season, he was traded to the New England Whalers where he appeared in just eleven games before being sent to the Edmonton Oilers. Busniuk retired after the 1977-78 season.
Busniuk's younger brother Mike also played in the NHL, as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Busniuk and his wife Paula live back in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Their son Bryson is currently in his junior year with the University of Vermont hockey team.
