- Hanson Brothers
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.
Biography
The real-life inspirations for the Hanson Brothers are
Jeff Carlson (bornJuly 20 ,1953 ),Jack Carlson (bornAugust 23 ,1954 ), and Steve Carlson (bornAugust 26 ,1955 ). The brothers were born inVirginia, Minnesota and first played together on the Marquette Iron Rangers hockey team inMarquette, Michigan .Jack Carlson was unable to act in the film as the
Edmonton Oilers called him up for the WHA playoffs. In his place, Dave Hanson (bornApril 12 ,1954 inCumberland, Wisconsin ) fulfilled the role. In the movie, they speak with a typical North Central American accent, owing to their hometowns, in areas where hockey is prevalent. TheUnited States Hockey Hall of Fame is located inEveleth, 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 theIron Range , a hockey hotbed in Northern Minnesota.Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson, and Dave Hanson continue to make personal appearances as the Hanson Brothers, typically at minor league hockey games,
as of 2007 .lap Shot
The movie, which stars
Paul Newman , was written byNancy Dowd , and based upon the antics of theNorth American Hockey League club inPennsylvania called theJohnstown Chiefs , for which her brother Ned played. [ Sports Illustrated, July 2, 2007 ]The character "Killer Carlson", is based on Dave Hanson, who was nicknamed "Killer" Hanson. Ironically, later in his pro days, Jack Carlson, the man Dave "played" in the movie, was often referred to as "Killer". Jack Carlson was very well known throughout his career as an enforcer.
Dave Hanson actually had the second longest career in the WHA and NHL out of three 'Hanson Brothers" in the film. Playing 136 games combined in the WHA/NHL to Jeff Carlson's 7 total games (all WHA). Steve Carlson played in 225 combined games, the most big league games of the three.
Both Dave Hanson and Jeff Carlson were also known for "dropping the gloves". Steve Carlson had a few fights here and there, but was known more as a finesse player.
In popular culture
*The Hanson Brother characters inspired Canadian rock / punk band
Nomeansno to create an alter-ego bandThe Hanson Brothers , playingRamones -style songs about girls, hockey and beer. Fact|date=July 2007References
External links
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* [http://www.slap-shot.com/ The Hanson Brothers] Official Slap Shot Movie Merchandise
* [http://www.hansonbrothers.net/ The Hanson Brothers] The Official Home of The Hanson Brothers
* [http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/hockeyhistory.htm/ Birthplace of Pro Hockey Museum] Information on thehistory of ice hockey in Upper Michigan'sCopper Country with reference to the Hanson brothers.
* [http://www.marquetteironrangers.com/ Marquette Iron Rangers] Photos of the Carlson's in their first pro experience and a 2001 interview with Steve Carlson.
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