Bruce Dowie was born in Oakville, ON. He was with the Oakville Midget Blades for the 1978/79 season. The goaltender started his OHL career with the Toronto Marlboros in the fall of 1979, and was with them until the end of the 1983 season. Dowie was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1983 after winning 94 games in four seasons with the Marlboros. He was known as a top junior player, and was OMJHL Rookie of the Year in 1980.
Dowie played 25 games with the Muskegon Mohawks (IHL) in the 1983/84 season, before passing through the St. Catharines Saints (AHL) on his way to the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL). Dowie was between the pipes for only two games with the Leafs, before heading back down to the IHL with the Toledo Goaldiggers for the 1984/85 season.
The following years until 1987 saw Dowie in the AHL with the St. Catharines Saints and the Newmarket Saints. Due to injuries, he played in only 14 games over three seasons. Dowie eventually signed with the Dundas Real McCoys in the OHA-Sr league, playing 15 games. He retired at the end of the 1987 season.
Dowie, a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni, is currently a Senior Sales Executive with Anixter Canada Inc. located in Burlington, ON.