Babando played junior in the OHA with the Galt Kists and Red Wings. In 1945-46, the Boston Bruins prospect scored 25 goals in 32 games for the EHL's Olympics. After a solid year with the AHL's Hershey Bears, Babando joined Boston in 1947-48 where he enjoyed an excellent rookie season with 23 goals. Following this exemplary performance, the young winger was the runner-up to Detroit's Jim McFadden in the Calder Trophy voting.

Babando scored 19 goals in 1948-49 but was part of the package used by Boston to acquire all-star defenceman Bill Quackenbush from the Red Wings. Although he was strictly used on a checking line with Max McNab and Joe Carveth in 1949-50, the crafty winger scored two huge playoff goals. They both came in the seventh and deciding game of the finals against the Rangers and the second marker, at 8:31 of double overtime, brought the Stanley Cup to Motown.

A few weeks after his extra-period heroics, Babando was part of a nine-player deal between Detroit and Chicago. He spent two and a half years in the Windy City playing chiefly with former "Pony Line" members Bill Mosienko and Doug Bentley. Halfway through the next season, the veteran winger was acquired by the New York Rangers for cash.

Babando played the last 29 games of the 1952-53 season then spent 14 years in the minors. The highlights of this period included three straight 20-goal seasons for the AHL's Buffalo Bisons in the mid-1950s and a 55-goal performance for the Clinton Comets of the EHL in 1962-63.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame