[1] Following a solid junior career with the Oshawa Generals, Keans was selected in the 6th round (94th overall) of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.
Keans spent parts of four seasons with the Kings, but was inconsistent and never fully established himself, serving as one of several backups to incumbent starter Mario Lessard.
Keans was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins prior to the 1983–84 season to back up starter Pete Peeters.
He would spend 5 seasons in Boston, backing up Peeters, Pat Riggin, Bill Ranford and Réjean Lemelin.
At the trade deadline near the end of the 1987–88 season, Boston would acquire star netminder Andy Moog from the Edmonton Oilers.