He started out in junior with the Calgary Jimmies from 1932 to 1934 and then with the senior Calgary Bronks in the 1934-35 season. The Montreal Maroons signed him as a free agent in Septemeber, 1935, but traded him to the New York Rangers a month later. Wares played three seasons with the Rangers' farm team the Philadelphia Ramblers, getting his NHL debut with 2 games in 1936-37. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in the middle of the 1937-38 season.