He played for Glebe High School in Ottawa in 1936-37 and then joined the Sudbury Wolves for the 1938 World Championship, which they won. Bruce played for the junior Wolves after the World Championship and then the junior North Bay Trappers in 1938-39. In 1939 Bruce was signed as a free agent by the Boston Bruins and was assigned to the Hershey Bears. In 1941-42 he played 15 games for the Bruins, scoring 4 goals and 8 assists. After that season Bruce joined the military for World War II. He played for the Ottawa Commandos as they won the Allan Cup in 1943.