He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars from 1952 to 1970.

[1][2] He began playing hockey at seven years of age on the rivers and outdoor ice surfaces of Prescott, near Ottawa.

[5][6] He subsequently played for the Port Arthur Bruins of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League for two seasons.

[2][6] Boivin started the 1951–52 season playing for the Pittsburgh Hornets of the American Hockey League (AHL),[7] before being promoted to the Leafs.

The franchise had lost hard-hitting blue-liner Bill Barilko in the summer of 1951 when he disappeared on a fishing trip, and the Toronto brass felt Boivin's physical style could help fill that void.

Boivin starred with other Boston defensive stalwarts Allan Stanley, Fern Flaman, Doug Mohns and Bob Armstrong.

"[11] He spent a season and a half with the Penguins before moving on for a final time when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars, another expansion club.

[16] He later coached the Ottawa 67's of the Ontario Hockey League for a brief period, tutoring young defencemen Denis Potvin and Ian Turnbull.