Don was born in Bracebridge in 1934 and while attending Bracebridge High school, won track & field Championships in 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951. He was also part of the high school hockey team that won championships for Muskoka District in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Don also played juvenile and Jr. Hockey I the OHA system, basketball, volleyball and curling. His lacrosse career included playing juvenile for the Huntsville hawks in 1950, the Champion Intermediate Huntsville Hawks in 1951, the Orillia O.L.A. Juveniles in 1952, Oakville Jr. “A” Green Gaels in 1953, Scarborough Maitlands Sr. “B” in 1954, from 1955-58 with the Mimico Maitlands Sr. “B”, the Newmarket Locals Intermediate “A” in 1961. Don played for the Brooklin Redmen from 1961-68 competing for the Mann cup in’64, ’65, ’67 and finally winning in 1968. Don also coached the Jr. “B” Markham Mohawks and was York from 1964 to 1968 and the minor league novice/bantam for several years in Peterborough.