He played junior hockey for the Stratford Midgets from 1931 to 1934 and then senior hockey in the Maritime provinces in eastern Canada. In 1935 the Montreal Canadiens signed him as a free agent. Desilets played three seasons for the Canadiens and was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in 1938 for Lou Trudel. He played two seasons for the Hawks, followed by two seasons in the American Hockey League. In the NHL Desilets played in 192 games and scored 37 goals and 45 assists.