 Although he was a defenceman, he led the Legionnaires in scoring during his second season.His first full season was with the Sault Thunderbirds of the Eastern Professional Hockey League in 1960–61.Stapleton had signed with the Chicago Black Hawks, but was claimed by the Boston Bruins in the intra-league draft in June 1961 and began his National Hockey League career with the Bruins in the 1961–62 season.