Hanson Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Hanson Brothers are fictional characters in the 1977 movie Slap Shot
. The characters are based on three brothers who were actual hockey players; two of them starred in the film.
The movie, which stars Paul Newman
, was written by Nancy Dowd
. The story was based in part upon the experiences of her brother, Ned Dowd
(who appears in the film as notorious hockey player Ogie Ogelthorpe), when he played for the North American Hockey League
club in Pennsylvania
called the Johnstown Jets
.
The Hanson Brothers provide several humorous moments in the film and are best remembered for:
In the film, The Hansons are brought in by the front office as part of an inexpensive deal, also as enforcers for the flagging Charlestown Chiefs during their 1976 (and final) season in the Federal league. They are in order of their numbers:
called him up for the WHA
playoffs. In his place, Dave Hanson (born April 12, 1954, in Cumberland, Wisconsin
) fulfilled the role.
While the film's 'Hanson Brothers' were based on the real Carlson Brothers, the character of "Killer Carlson" is based on Dave Hanson-whose real hockey nickname was "Killer" Hanson. Thus, Dave Hanson filled in for Jack Carlson as one of the fictional Hanson Brothers - while another actor played a character modeled after Dave Hanson. Jack Carlson, the man Dave "played" in the movie, was also very well known throughout his career as an enforcer
, and did pick up the real hockey nickname "Killer" Carlson.
In the movie, the Hanson Brothers speak with a typical North Central American accent
, owing to their hometowns, in areas where hockey is prevalent. The United States Hockey Hall of Fame
is located in Eveleth, Minnesota
, only a few miles from Virginia
, home of the Carlsons. The Iron League, from which the Hansons are supposedly bought, may be a reference to the Marquette Iron Rangers
or the Iron Range
, a hockey hotbed in Northern Minnesota.
Along with their time on minor professional teams like those depicted in the film, all three of the actors playing the Hanson Brothers played in the major leagues. Steve Carlson played in 225 games, in both the NHL
and the WHA. Dave Hanson played in 136 games in the NHL and WHA. Jeff Carlson played 7 games in the WHA. Like their characters, both Dave Hanson and Jeff Carlson were known for a willingness to "drop the gloves". Steve Carlson did have some fights in his professional career, but was known more as a finesse player. Dave Hanson's son, Christian Hanson
currently plays in the Washington Capitals
organization.
Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson and Dave Hanson continue to make personal appearances as the Hanson Brothers, typically at minor league hockey games . The brothers latest appeared at the first Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Alumni Game in Wilkes-Barre, PA on April 4, 2009.
Slap Shot (film)
Slap Shot is a 1977 film comedy starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean directed by George Roy Hill. It depicts a minor league hockey team that resorts to violent play to gain popularity in a declining factory town.- Plot :...
. The characters are based on three brothers who were actual hockey players; two of them starred in the film.
The movie, which stars Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
, was written by Nancy Dowd
Nancy Dowd
Nancy Dowd is a screenwriter most famous for her films Slap Shot and Coming Home. Her brother Ned Dowd inspired the story behind Slap Shot based on his experiences playing minor league hockey...
. The story was based in part upon the experiences of her brother, Ned Dowd
Ned Dowd
Ned Dowd is an American actor and film producer.-Career:After graduating from Bowdoin College in 1972, Dowd earned a master's degree at McGill University and played professional hockey. The film, Slap Shot , written by his sister, Nancy Dowd, is based in part on his experiences playing minor...
(who appears in the film as notorious hockey player Ogie Ogelthorpe), when he played for the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
club in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
called the Johnstown Jets
Johnstown Jets
The Johnstown Jets were a professional ice hockey team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena...
.
The Hanson Brothers provide several humorous moments in the film and are best remembered for:
- starting fights
- interrupting the coach in the locker room during pre-game speeches with overzealous shouting
- wearing extremely thick glasses
- playing with toy cars and trucks in their hotel room, although the brothers range in age from 18 to 20
In the film, The Hansons are brought in by the front office as part of an inexpensive deal, also as enforcers for the flagging Charlestown Chiefs during their 1976 (and final) season in the Federal league. They are in order of their numbers:
- Jack Hanson (portrayed by David HansonDavid Hanson (ice hockey)David J. "Dave" Hanson is a retired American professional hockey player. He played 33 games in the National Hockey League, and a total of 103 games in the World Hockey Association.-Early life:...
) – #16 Left Wing - Steve Hanson (portrayed by Steve CarlsonSteve CarlsonSteven Edward Carlson is a retired American ice hockey forward and a former minor league hockey coach.Carlson was born in Virginia, Minnesota. He appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the Hanson Brothers...
) – #17 Center - Jeff Hanson (portrayed by Jeff Carlson) – #18 Right Wing
Biography
Jack Carlson was unable to act in the film as the Edmonton OilersEdmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
called him up for the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
playoffs. In his place, Dave Hanson (born April 12, 1954, in Cumberland, Wisconsin
Cumberland, Wisconsin
Cumberland is a city in Barron County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,280 at the 2000 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Cumberland.-Recreation:...
) fulfilled the role.
While the film's 'Hanson Brothers' were based on the real Carlson Brothers, the character of "Killer Carlson" is based on Dave Hanson-whose real hockey nickname was "Killer" Hanson. Thus, Dave Hanson filled in for Jack Carlson as one of the fictional Hanson Brothers - while another actor played a character modeled after Dave Hanson. Jack Carlson, the man Dave "played" in the movie, was also very well known throughout his career as an enforcer
Enforcer (hockey)
Enforcer is an unofficial role in ice hockey. The term is sometimes used synonymously with "fighter", "tough guy", or "goon". NHL players regarded as enforcers include Tiger Williams, Tony Twist, Bob Probert, Dave Semenko, Dave Schultz, Tie Domi, Dave Brown, Joey Kocur, Clark Gillies, Stu Grimson,...
, and did pick up the real hockey nickname "Killer" Carlson.
In the movie, the Hanson Brothers speak with a typical North Central American accent
North Central American English
North–Central American English is used to refer to a dialect of American English. The region is also known as Upper Midwest among some linguists. It is also sometimes called the Minnesota Accent or Great Lakes Accent. It is widely spoken in the Upper Midwest and the northern portion of the...
, owing to their hometowns, in areas where hockey is prevalent. The United States Hockey Hall of Fame
United States Hockey Hall of Fame
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
is located in Eveleth, Minnesota
Eveleth, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,865 people, 1,717 households, and 971 families residing in the city. The population density was 611.0 people per square mile . There were 1,965 housing units at an average density of 310.6 per square mile...
, only a few miles from Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
, home of the Carlsons. The Iron League, from which the Hansons are supposedly bought, may be a reference to the Marquette Iron Rangers
Marquette Iron Rangers
Marquette Iron Rangers were a semi-pro senior ice hockey team from Marquette, Michigan that played in the United States Hockey League from 1964-1976 where they were five-time champions...
or the Iron Range
Iron Range
The Iron Range is a region that makes up the northeastern section of Minnesota in the United States. "The Range", as it is known by locals, is a region with multiple distinct bands of iron ore...
, a hockey hotbed in Northern Minnesota.
Along with their time on minor professional teams like those depicted in the film, all three of the actors playing the Hanson Brothers played in the major leagues. Steve Carlson played in 225 games, in both the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and the WHA. Dave Hanson played in 136 games in the NHL and WHA. Jeff Carlson played 7 games in the WHA. Like their characters, both Dave Hanson and Jeff Carlson were known for a willingness to "drop the gloves". Steve Carlson did have some fights in his professional career, but was known more as a finesse player. Dave Hanson's son, Christian Hanson
Christian Hanson (ice hockey)
Christian David Hanson is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals. Prior to playing for the Capitals, Hanson played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and in the American Hockey League for the Toronto Marlies. He played amateur hockey for the University...
currently plays in the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
organization.
Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson and Dave Hanson continue to make personal appearances as the Hanson Brothers, typically at minor league hockey games . The brothers latest appeared at the first Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
Alumni Game in Wilkes-Barre, PA on April 4, 2009.
In popular culture
- The Hanson Brother characters inspired Canadian rock / punk band NomeansnoNomeansnoNoMeansNo is a Canadian progressive punk rock music group originally from Victoria, British Columbia and now located in Vancouver.The band has never had, nor have they seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America and Europe...
to create an alter-ego band The Hanson BrothersThe Hanson BrothersThe Hanson Brothers are a Canadian punk rock band based in Vancouver, British Columbia and led by John and Rob Wright and Tom Holliston, all members of the punk rock band Nomeansno....
, playing RamonesRamonesThe Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
-style songs about girls, hockey and beer.
- The Lake Erie MonstersLake Erie MonstersThe Lake Erie Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They began play in the 2007–08 AHL season at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...
of the American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
have a trio of long-haired, horn-rimmed-glasses-wearing guys who do "ice maintenance" during the official time-outs at home games named The Mullet Brothers, who are patterned after the Hansons.
- It was mentioned in the 2005 documentary Forever Hardcore by Pro Wrestler Scott "Raven" Levy that the idea for the Stable known as The DudleysDudley BoyzTeam 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals...
was inspired by the Hanson Brothers from Slapshot after he and Dean MalenkoDean MalenkoDean Simon is a retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling , New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
watched the movie one night in Florida.