Woods was born in
Hespeler, Ontario. As a youth, he played in the 1966
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a
minor ice hockey team from Hespeler. Woods spent his junior career with the
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, leading the team in scoring in 1974-75 with 121 points in 62 games. He was drafted in the 3rd round (51st overall) of the
1975 NHL Entry Draft by the
Montreal Canadiens. Woods won two
AHL Calder Cup titles with Montreal's farm team, the
Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1975–76 and 1976–77, scoring the Cup winning goal in 1976. After two seasons in Nova Scotia, he was claimed by Detroit in the
1977 NHL Waiver Draft. His entire NHL career would be spent with Detroit. Woods was the youngest captain in team history prior to
Steve Yzerman. He scored 19 goals in his rookie season and settled into a role as a defensive forward, shutting down the opposition's top players. This was a role he embraced, and Woods' work ethic and speed made him a fan favorite in Detroit. His career was shortened due to a hip injury, finishing his NHL career with 72 goals and 124 assists in 502 games played. Woods finished his pro career with the AHL's
Adirondack Red Wings in 1984–85. ==Career statistics==