hiː kˈeɪm ˌʌp θɹuː ðə dʒˈuːnjɚ sˈɪstəm ʌvðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk ɹˈeɪndʒɚz, plˈeɪɪŋ fɚðə ɡˈɛlf bˈɪltmoːɹz ɐlˈɔŋsaɪd fjˈuːtʃɚ hˈɔːl ʌv fˈeɪmɚz ɹˈɑːd ɡˈɪlbɚt ænd dʒˈiːn ɹɐtˈɛl.
He came up through the junior system of the New York Rangers, playing for the Guelph Biltmores alongside future Hall of Famers Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle.