In 1926 he was a young left winger for the Chesterville Colts of the Ontario Hockey Association and showed great promise.

He was quickly noticed and in 1927 played forty games for the Quebec Beavers of the CAHL before being called up into the Canadian Professional Hockey League the following year for the Windsor Bulldogs.

On November 10, 1930 he was traded to the Detroit Falcons, and finally found a place to call home for more than a single season.

He would spend the next nine years with the Detroit club helping the team to win consecutive Stanley Cups in 1936 and 1937.

On February 13, 1938, Sorrell was traded for Hap Emms to the New York Americans where he would spend the rest of his NHL career.