Joe was born in Ireland but spent his early life in Kirkland Lake, Ontario where he honed his hockey skills. He played for the Red Wing Junior C team from 1945-1947, then the Red Wing Junior B Team in 1947-48.  Joe skated for the Windsor Spitfires of the Continental League in 1948-49 and, in 1949-50, he joined the Collingwood Shipbuilders along with his brother, Pat.