Green, a tough, feisty center, began his hockey career in 1915, played for Hamilton 227th Battalion in the Allan Cup Final (Canada's senior amateur championship) in 1917 and entered Canada's military during World War I.

He picked up where he left off after returning to hockey, scoring 12 goals in eight games for the Hamilton Tigers of the OHA Senior League in 1918-19, helping them win the Allan Cup, then playing four seasons with Sudbury, his hometown team, in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association.

Green moved back to Hamilton and began his professional career with the NHL's Hamilton Tigers in 1923-24, finishing with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 24 games. He was named captain and took his game to another level in 1924-25, scoring 18 goals and finishing with 27 points to help Hamilton finish first in the regular season after coming in last in 1923-24 and advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in its history.

However, Green and the Tigers led a strike before the Stanley Cup Playoffs, demanding a bonus before they would play. Ownership refused, and the players were suspended by NHL President Frank Calder.

The Tigers moved for the 1925-26 season, becoming the New York Americans and playing their home games at Madison Square Garden. Green scored the first NHL goal in Garden history on Dec. 19, 1925, though the Americans missed the playoffs.

Green's NHL playing career came to an end after he dislocated a kidney in a game against the New York Rangers on Feb. 27, 1927. He finished his NHL career with 56 points (34 goals, 22 assists) in 103 games.

He recovered and was named coach of the Americans for the 1927-28 season. They went 11-27 with six ties and missed the playoffs; Green opted to leave the NHL and spent five seasons coaching minor league and senior teams before going into business.

Green was 63 when he died on April 19, 1960. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.