He joined the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, and while he spent the bulk of his time with the naval hockey team, he did see active service defending merchant shipping.

A standout athlete, Harvey also played Canadian football and baseball at this time, though he gave up on both sports to concentrate on hockey.

[6] He first showed his athletic ability in Canadian football, and when he entered West Hill High School in 1939 he joined the team there, playing both on offence and defence.

[10] The Second World War was ongoing while Harvey was completing high school, and in 1942, one month before his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy, following the advice of Alf, who had already done so.

[12] In the spring of 1944 Harvey was assigned to a defensively equipped merchant ship; this was again a suggestion of Alf, as it meant a less rigorous lifestyle on board a naval vessel.

Harvey would spend the next year regularly crossing the Atlantic while helping protect supplies being shipped to Europe and Africa.

[15] The Donnacona Navy won the 1944 Grey Cup as Canadian champions, though Harvey had been sent into active service and did not play in the game.

[19] Under coach Dick Irvin, Harvey was named to the All-Star team 11 consecutive times, beginning in the 1951–52 NHL season.

In an era when the defenceman's role did not include scoring points, Harvey used his skating speed and passing ability to become a factor in making the Canadiens a high-scoring team.

During the 1954 Finals however, he scored a Cup-losing own-goal when he tried to block a shot by Tony Leswick of the Detroit Red Wings with his glove but instead tipped it past goalie Gerry McNeil.

[21] Between 1955 and 1962 Harvey won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman every year except 1959, when it went to his teammate Tom Johnson.

Muzz Patrick, the coach and general manager of the Rangers, had tired of the dual role, and agreed to take on Harvey if he could be convinced to be a player-coach.

While Harvey was reluctant to move to New York he agreed to talk to Patrick, who offered a two-year contract worth $25,000 per year, a fairly high salary.

[25] Harvey's play remained at a high level: he led all NHL defencemen in scoring with 39 points, but was criticized for the team's lack of success.

[26] After recording 2 assists in 14 games during the 1963–64 season, Harvey continued to attract negative attention, and rather than return to the minor leagues he asked to be released from his contract.

In 1964 Harvey, Gump Worsley, and Red Berenson played for the Montreal Jr. Canadiens in a game against the Soviet national team.

[27] In January 1967, Harvey was called up to play for the Detroit Red Wings in a back-to-back series against the Chicago Black Hawks.

However he disappointed Red Wings management by showing up roughly 20 pounds (9.1 kg) overweight, and was largely ineffective in the two games, so was sent back to Pittsburgh for the remainder of the season.

[28] With the Hornets he won the Calder Cup, the AHL championship, though the team disbanded after the season as the Pittsburgh Penguins were due to start playing in the NHL for 1967–68.

[30] After retiring from playing, Harvey became head coach of the Laval Saints of the newly formed Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

[31] Offered a role as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL he went there, serving out the rest of the season with the team.

With the Aeros he helped sign former NHL star Gordie Howe and his two sons, Mark and Marty, which was considered a major coup for the new league.

Harvey, who was well known for his hockey career at this point, would spend most of his time talking to clients, leaving Alf and Howard to do the physical work.

[40] The restaurant proved a massive financial failure, with his partner absconding with a large amount of money, and ultimately cost Harvey around $65,000, equal to nearly two years' pay for him.

[41] It also took a serious toll on his family's finances, which were exacerbated when he played in the minor leagues, making far less than he had in the NHL; on several occasions friends would help cover the mortgage to prevent Harvey from defaulting.

He would lead a two-week school instructing them on how to play better, and would often buy equipment and board players who were unable to cover the associated costs.

[58] He held the dual roles with the New York Rangers during the 1961–62 season—a year in which he led the team to the semi-finals and was awarded his seventh Norris Trophy for best defenceman in the league.