Bob Dobek was from Michigan and as a junior skated with the Detroit Junior Red Wings of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League. He later attended Bowling Green and was the leading scorer in college hockey in 1974. After the 1976 Winter Olympics, Dobek had a brief career in pro hockey, playing two seasons (1976-77) with the San Diego Mariners of the World Hockey Association, and a few games in 1977 with the Charlotte Checkers of the Southern Hockey League. He then retired to pursue his other love, golf. He became director of golf operations for several West Coast golf courses and then formed his own company, Capitol Golf Group, settling with his family near San Diego.