Doug Jarvis began his hockey career with the Peterborough Petes in the OHA. He was a key player with the Petes as he took important faceoffs and strengthened their special teams unit. The Petes were selected to play as Team Canada in the 1974 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, in what was first edition of the tournament was staged, and Jarvis was part of that team. Canada took home the bronze medal as Jarvis scored four goals in five games. After a 133-point effort in 1974-75, he was selected to the OMJHL First All-Star Team. This caught the attention of NHL scouts and in 1975, he was picked 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. However, he was traded almost right away to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Greg Hubick.