A native of Antigonish, N.S., Brophy was a defenceman for a number of years in the minor league ranks -- primarily in the Eastern Hockey League -- where he carved out a reputation as a rough-and-tumble blueliner. He played 18 seasons in the Eastern League beginning in 1955-56 and had at least 100 penalty minutes in every one of them.
Brophy's transition into coaching began during his playing days. In 1967-68, he became player-coach of the EHL's Long Island Ducks and took the club to the playoffs in his first season in the role. He held the player-coach title until he was sent to the New Haven Blades to close out the 1968-69 season.