Ference played hockey in the WHL for 5 seasons with the Portland Winter Hawks. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the 208th overall pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Ference also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 4 seasons, the Calgary Flames for 4 seasons and the Boston Bruins for 7 seasons. During his time with the Bruins, he won the Stanley Cup on June 15, 2011 when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in game 7 by a score of 4-0.