Corkum represented the United States at the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. After playing four seasons for the University of Maine, Corkum debuted with Buffalo's American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans, in the 1989–90 season. He also appeared in eight regular season games and five playoff games with the Sabres during the 1989–90 season. After playing for the Americans and Sabres for the next three seasons, Corkum was chosen by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft.