Before he played in the NHL, he played 4 years of college hockey at Bowling Green State University. He was drafted with the 169th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. Potvin also played in the AHL with the Adirondack Red Wings, Providence Bruins and Portland Pirates, as well as one season in the IHL with the Chicago Wolves. When he retired, he became the assistant coach of the Adirondack Red Wings. After that, became the head coach of the Mississippi Sea Wolves in the ECHL for a year. He went on to coach the Springfield Falcons of the AHL for 2 seasons, in the UHL with the Adirondack IceHawks for 2 seasons and 1 season when it was renamed the Adirondack Frostbite. 