His NHL debut at the age of 36 made him one of the oldest rookies in professional hockey history.
[1] Brooks had a long minor league career which included seven seasons for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League (AHL), and shared the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award for lowest goals-against average in the AHL with teammate Dan Bouchard in 1972.
In the 1972–73 NHL season, the Bruins, who owned his rights, lost several goaltenders: top prospect Bouchard to expansion, star Gerry Cheevers to the World Hockey Association and veteran Eddie Johnston to trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Playing for a powerhouse team that regularly finished around the top of the league standings, he compiled a career record of 37 wins, and only 7 losses and 6 ties with a goals against average of 2.63.
After his retirement, Brooks was a longtime executive for the Bruins' farm team in Providence, leaving that post in 2000.