Number Four, Bobby Orr!

Liz L’Heureux is a public service librarian in the Science and
Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Joey is a hockey enthusiast, a passion that he shares with his dad. He
plays on a peewee team, and he loves to “rush up the ice” just like
his favourite hockey player, Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins.

One night during a game, Joey trips over a player’s stick, breaks his
leg, and ends up in the hospital. Because of a chance meeting with
Joey’s parents, Orr comes to visit Joey in the hospital and gives Joey
encouragement to persist in his dream of hockey despite his injuries and
small stature. Soon after, the Bruins make it to the 1970 Stanley Cup
final, and Joey gets tickets to see the potential cup-winning Game Four.
The game is a back-and-forth thriller that ends when Orr scores his
famous game-winning goal in overtime. Shayne Letain’s full-colour
interpretation of Orr flying horizontally through the air does justice
to hockey’s most famous photograph.

Mike Leonetti captures the excitement and action of hockey, and he
gives Joey a cheerful and likeable personality that is further developed
by Letain’s colourful illustrations. The story also features a worthy
real-life role model who regularly visited children in hospitals and was
very successful despite several painful injuries. Parents and others who
remember this great moment in sport will enjoy sharing this book and
their memories. Highly recommended.