ðə nˈɔːɹθ bˈeɪ, ɑːntˈæɹɪˌoʊ nˈeɪɾɪv kˈeɪm ˌaʊɾəv ðə tɚɹˈɑːntoʊ dʒˈuːnjɚ hˈɑːki ɹˈæŋks, ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli sˈaɪnɪŋ ˌɔn æz ɐ fɹˈiː ˈeɪdʒənt wɪð kˈɑːn smˈaɪðz tɚɹˈɑːntoʊ mˈeɪpəl lˈiːfs.
The North Bay, Ontario native came out of the Toronto junior hockey ranks, eventually signing on as a free agent with Conn Smythe's Toronto Maple Leafs.