As a 16-year-old, Brown excelled and quickly join the Ontario Hockey Association Junior ranks, playing for both the Berlin Union Jacks and the St. Michael's Majors.

During the 1916–17 season, Brown spent some time in the OHA-Senior playing with the Toronto St. Pats, scoring three goals in eight games.

He also joined the Toronto Dentals, a local club made up of dentistry students, which had just won the Allan Cup.

The Detroit Greyhounds played only six games that season before they and the Northern Ontario Hockey Association Senior-A League folded.

He played in both playoff games for New York that year, failing to record a point and watching the Boston Bruins go on to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Brown was quickly assigned to Montreal's farm team the Windsor Bulldogs of the Canadian Professional Hockey League.