Bob Parent was born February 19, 1958 in Windsor, Ontario. The 3rd choice, 65th overall selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, Parent is a graduate of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League after spending three seasons with stops in Windsor and Kitchener.
Following his four years in the OMJHL, Parent joined the International Hockey League's Saginaw Gears in 1978-79 where he played in only two games before joining the Port Huron Flags for the majority of the season.
In 1979-80 the goaltender from Windsor, Ontario returned to Port Huron before signing with the Eastern Hockey League's Hampton Aces the following year. Even though he spent the majority of the season with the Aces, Parent suited up for two games with the American Hockey League's New Brunswick Hawks before making his NHL debut in goal with Leafs during the 1981-82 season.
Once the 1981-82 season began, Parent found himself in the Central Hockey League with the Cincinnati Tigers where he spent the majority of the season, while playing in only two games with Toronto.
Parent joined the AHL's St. Catherines Saints in 1982-83 and played in only one game for the Leafs while spending the better part of the season and the early part of the 1983-84 season before finishing his career with the IHL's Muskegon Mohawks.