He played junior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League from 1974-76. He was drafted 24th overall in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft by the New York Rangers and junped right to the big team. Farrish played for three seasons before being claimed by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft. He was then quickly traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Farrish had a mixed history with the Leafs. He was a full-timer in 1980-81, 1982-83, and 1983-84. The other seasons (up to 1985) were mostly spent with the Leafs' farm teams.