He played junior hockey for the Lethbridge Native Sons and the Prince Albert Mintos. The Regina Pats picked him up for the 1957-58 Memorial Cup Final. Erickson turned pro with the Calgary Stampeders in 1958-59 and then joined the Boston Bruins the following two seasons. After 1961, however, NHL time was hard to come by and Erickson saw only spot duty in the league. He retired in 1970. Erickson became coach of the Phoenix Roadrunners of the Western Hockey League (the last team that he played for) right after his retirement. He remained in that job for two seasons.