Briden, like most young men of his era, missed two years of hockey due to his service in the Canadian military in World War I from 1917-1919. In 1919-20, he headed west to join the Edmonton Eskimos of the Big-Four league where he played for two years. He then decided to head right out to the west coast and play for the Seattle Metropolitans of the PCHA. He remained in Seattle for almost three years before being sent to the Victoria Cougars midway through the 1923-24 season.

In 1925, Briden, nicknamed "Bones" by his teammates, headed back east to rejoin the Edmonton Eskimos where he scored 23 points in 28 games. The following season he suited up for the Calgary Tigers of the WHL, scoring 14 goals and 16 points in 26 games.

In 1926-27, Briden played his first year in the NHL. He began playing 16 games with the Boston Bruins, scoring two goals and two assists in 16 games before being sent to the Detroit Cougars, where he played another 26 games, scoring three more goals. The following two years Briden was in Philadelphia, playing for the Arrows of the CAHL before getting another shot at the NHL in 1929-30, when he signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 30 games, Briden had four goals and seven points.

Briden continued to play hockey at the pro level for another two seasons with the Cleveland Indians of the IHL before retiring at the end of the 1931-32 campaign. Briden appeared in 30 NHL games, scoring four goals and seven points.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame