Hanson Brothers

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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.

[edit] Biography

The real-life inspirations for the Hanson Brothers are Jeff Carlson (born July 20, 1953), Jack Carlson (born August 23, 1954), and Steve Carlson (born August 26, 1955). The brothers were born in Virginia, Minnesota and first played together on the Marquette Iron Rangers hockey team in Marquette, 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 (born April 12, 1954 in Cumberland, 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. 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 upper 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.

[edit] Slap Shot

The movie, which stars Paul Newman, was written by Nancy Dowd, and based upon the antics of the North American Hockey League club in Pennsylvania called the Johnstown Jets, for which her brother Ned played.^[1]

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. Not surprisingly, Jack Carlson, the brother who missed playing part in the movie when he was called up to the pros, had by far the longest NHL career.

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.

Marquette and its iron range and iron rangers, is in Michigan. Home of the first professional hockey league. It's not Wisconsin or Minnesota despite their birthplace.

[edit] In popular culture

• The Hanson Brother characters inspired Canadian rock / punk band Nomeansno to create an alter-ego band The Hanson Brothers, playing Ramones-style songs about girls, hockey and beer.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Syracuse Crunch Fans

The Syracuse Crunch have 3 season ticket holders dressed as the Hanson brothers at every game. They participate in the between play antics when a team member of the opposing team draws a penalty in the third period. The film had a game against the Syracuse Bulldogs, which is now a soccer team, and was actually filmed in the Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse, NY.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Steve Hanson at the Internet Movie Database
• Jack Hanson at the Internet Movie Database
• Jeff Hanson at the Internet Movie Database
• The Hanson Brothers Official Slap Shot Movie Merchandise
• The Hanson Brothers The Official Home of The Hanson Brothers
• Birthplace of Pro Hockey Museum Information on the history of ice hockey in Upper Michigan's Copper Country with reference to the Hanson brothers.
• Marquette Iron Rangers Photos of the Carlson's in their first pro experience and a 2001 interview with Steve Carlson.