Born Giuseppe Antonio deBastiani to Pietro and Augusta, immigrants from Veneto, Joe grew up in Ontario. After graduating from Haileybury Mining School, deBastiani worked in the mines for a year or so before taking part in the 1949 Ice Hockey World Championships and was regarded as one of the best wingers in the tournament. The following year he began attending Michigan College of Mining and Technology and, after sitting out his freshman season (a common practice at the time), Joe joined the ice hockey team in 1950. He led the team in scoring as a sophomore and was selected as an AHCA First Team All-American in 1950–51.