He played Tier II Junior "A" with the Calgary Canucks and then college hockey with the Michigan Tech Huskies from 1978 to 1982. Undrafted by any NHL team, Stiles signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames in 1982. He turned pro with the Colorado Flames in 1982-83, then had his stint with Calgary in 1983-84. He spent the next two seasons in the minors and was traded to the Quebec Nordiques late in the 1985-86 season.