[1] His father Paul, an oil and gas executive and former football quarterback at the University of Calgary, encouraged his children's sporting pursuits; Joe grew up practicing his hockey skills on a backyard rink while his sisters Lauren, Melissa and Claire played basketball.

[2] Having grown to six feet, five inches tall by the time he was 18, Colborne was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Boston Bruins at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

[1] Colborne joined Providence full-time for the 2010–11 AHL season and the Bruins projected that he could become a player capable of playing on the top two lines at either centre or wing.

[11] However, after appearing in 55 games for Providence in which he scored 12 goals and 26 points,[1] Colborne was sent, along with two draft picks, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Tomáš Kaberle on February 19, 2011.

[1] He also appeared in 10 games with the Maple Leafs and scored his first NHL goal on November 22, 2011, against goaltender Dwayne Roloson of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

[16] Colborne was excited to be dealt to his hometown team and described former players Al MacInnis, Joe Nieuwendyk and Jarome Iginla as his heroes; "So to have the opportunity to come back and put on the C is pretty special.

[1] While he was a restricted free agent prior to the 2014–15 season, Colborne and the Flames avoided a scheduled arbitration hearing and agreed to a two-year, $2.55 million contract.

[19] On July 1, 2016, the opening day of free agency, Colborne opted to return to his collegiate roots in Denver, signing a two-year, $5 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

[20] In opening the 2016–17 season, Colborne made an instant impact in his Avalanche debut, recording his first career NHL hat-trick, in a 6–5 victory over the Dallas Stars on October 15, 2016.