Born in Massachusetts in 1909, Patenaude began playing in the competitive local leagues in his hometown of Fall River, Massachusetts. In 1928, he signed his first professional contract with Philadelphia Field Club of the American Soccer League. In his eight games with Philadelphia, he scored six goals. Despite this productivity, he moved to J&P Coats for one league game, then moved again to his hometown Fall River Marksmen. He remained in Fall River until the summer of 1930, winning the 1930 National Challenge Cup before moving to the Newark Americans. He scored seven goals in five games at the start of the 1930–1931 season, but found himself back with the Marksmen for the end of the season. In 1931, Fall River merged with the New York Soccer Club to form the New York Yankees. However, Fall River had already begun playing National Cup games. Therefore, while the Yankees won the National Cup, the records show the winner as Fall River. In the cup championship, Patenaude scored five goals in the Yankees' 6–2 first game victory over Chicago's Bricklayers and Masons F.C. Patenaude remained with the Yankees through the spring of 1931. In the fall of 1931, he played with the New York Giants.