Undrafted in the 1972 NHL or WHA amateur draft, he signed with the Jersey Devils in the EHL where he played 72 games in the 1972-73 season.
He would see another full season with the Richmond Robins before playing 57 games for the NHL's Flyers in 1975-76, the era of the "Broad Street Bullies" as the team was known.
McIlhargey's playing career in the NHL spanned 7 years on defense splitting nearly full seasons between Philadelphia, Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers.
[3] Originally hired by the club as a special assistant to general manager Harry Neale in 1984, McIlhargey was responsible for establishing the Canucks Alumni Association and a number of scouting assignments.
While Gamble endured four weeks of rigorous off-season training with Dynamo Moscow and Spartak, McIlhargey got to socialize with legendary Soviet coach Anatoli Tarasov.
[5] Three years later, McIlhargey was placed in charge of Vancouver's minor league affiliate in Milwaukee, where he spent the 1991–92 season.