He played for the Peterborough Petes from 1972 to 1976, including at the 1974 World Junior Championship where they represented Canada. Pirie played one game for the Dallas Black Hawks in 1976-77, but went to the University of Guelph for three seasons. He made the Ontario University Athletics all-star team in 1978-79. In 1979-80 Pirie played for the Canadian Olympic team at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid.