***snip
Coach John Brophy called him up to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He stepped on the ice for only four games. Towards the end of his contract, when James told general manager Gerry McNamara that he wanted to explore his talent beyond the enforcer position, James says this was the response he got: "If you even try to touch that in' puck, I will bury you so deep in the minors no one will ever be able to find you again."