Background
McLea was born in Montreal, Quebec.
McLea was born in Montreal, Quebec.
As a youth, McLea attended the Bishop"s College School boarding school in Lennoxville, where he met future Victorias team-mates Hartland MacDougall and Robert MacDougall (not related).
McLea joined the senior Montreal Victorias for the 1896 season, playing two games during the season. The winning goal is considered one of hockey"s "greatest goals" by author Eric Zweig. McLea would go on to play in five seasons with the Victorias, scoring 17 goals in 24 regular season games with the club
After his playing days, McLea did remain involved in hockey as an on-ice official