Owen was a three-sport star at
Harvard University, playing football, baseball and hockey. He was awarded the university's Wingate Cup for best all-around athletic ability. After he graduated, Owen entered the brokerage business while continuing to play hockey for the Boston University Club. He was invited to play for the
United States Olympic Team in
1924, but declined because of business obligations. The
Toronto Maple Leafs held Owen's professional rights; however, as Owen did not want to leave Massachusetts, the Maple Leafs traded his rights to the
Boston Bruins on January 10,
1929, in exchange for
Eric Pettinger. Owen played five seasons with the Bruins, pairing on defense with players including
Lionel Hitchman and
Eddie Shore, and won the
Stanley Cup with the team in 1929. Legend has it Owen was the first player to don a helmet in an NHL game, wearing the same leather helmet that he had worn when playing college football. However,
Marty Burke of the
Montreal Canadiens is known to have worn a helmet briefly during a game in December 1928, before Owen entered the NHL. Following his playing career, Owen became head coach of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology men's ice hockey team. He later coached football, baseball and hockey at
Milton Academy. After retiring from Milton Academy, Owen worked as a scout for the
Pittsburgh Pirates. ==Personal life==