The discovery of a simple box was the start of a long journey that revealed an astonishing surprise as well as a wonderful friendship.

The Second World War era of hockey was one unlike any we’ve come to know in recent years. Six teams were stocked with numerous boys forced to become men before their bodies caught up. This made for interesting hockey and an era in which team management was forced to create shirts out of buttonholes. Toronto Maple Leaf coach Hap Day shook his head. “It appears that we have reached ‘The Children’s Hour’ in the NHL.”

Jack McLean was one of those players. ‘JACK AND THE BOX’ is about Jack McLean’s unlikely NHL career and Kevin Shea’s unlikely path to finding Jack, which in the process, forged an enduring friendship.

In his search for hockey, the author discovered so much more.