David Hanson (ice hockey)

David J. Hanson (born April 12, 1954) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 33 games in the National Hockey League between 1978 and 1980, and 103 games in the World Hockey Association between 1977 and 1979.

David Hanson
Born (1954-04-12) April 12, 1954 (age 70)
Cumberland, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
PositionDefense
ShotLeft
Played forDetroit Red Wings
Minnesota North Stars
New England Whalers
Minnesota Fighting Saints
Birmingham Bulls
NHL draftUndrafted
WHA draft59th overall, 1974
Minnesota Fighting Saints
Playing career1974–1984

Biography

Hanson was born in Cumberland, Wisconsin, and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he eventually starred in football, baseball and hockey at Humboldt Senior High School.

Hanson continued playing hockey for the St. Paul Vulcans and for Herb Brooks's University of Minnesota college team. Hanson played four seasons for the Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League, and the New England Whalers, Minnesota Fighting Saints and Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association.

He was originally cast as "Dave 'Killer' Carlson" in the 1977 film Slap Shot, but when Jack Carlson was unable to perform because his team was in the playoffs, Hanson was recast as "Jack Hanson", one of the Hanson Brothers. Professional actor Jerry Houser was then cast as "Killer", the character based on Dave Hanson. Hanson appeared in several other films, and won a "DVD Premiere Award", along with fellow Hanson Brothers Steve and Jeff Carlson (brothers of Jack Carlson), for his part in the 2002 sequel Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice.[1]

In 1977, Hanson married Sue Kaschalk, a coal miner's daughter from Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania.[2] He has two daughters and one son, Christian, a center whose professional career included time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, AHL teams and the Norwegian champion Stavanger Oilers.[2][3] At one point Hanson was general manager of the Capital District Islanders in upstate New York, then the New York Islanders farm team and the Albany River Rats, the New Jersey Devils farm team.[3] As of 2015 he resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and manages a sports center at Robert Morris University.[2][4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1973–74St. Paul VulcansMidJHL5691322220
1973–74Marquette Iron RangersUSHL
1974–75Johnstown JetsNAHL72102434249
1975–76Johnstown JetsNAHL6682129311903354
1976–77Johnstown JetsNAHL603327
1976–77Hampton GullsSHL285712188
1976–77Rhode Island RedsAHL272101298
1976–77Minnesota Fighting SaintsWHA702235
1976–77New England WhalersWHA1000910000
1977–78Kansas City Red WingsCHL1500041
1977–78Hampton GullsAHL50338
1977–78Birmingham BullsWHA4271623241501148
1978–79Birmingham BullsWHA5362228212
1978–79Detroit Red WingsNHL1100026
1979–80Oklahoma City StarsCHL600012
1979–80Birmingham BullsCHL334610174
1979–80Minnesota North StarsNHL2211239
1980–81Adirondack Red WingsAHL771121322671814530
1981–82Adirondack Red WingsAHL75112334206513423
1982–83Indianapolis CheckersCHL8018213928551342
1983–84Indianapolis CheckersCHL10000
1983–84Toledo GoaldiggersIHL68112637120913433
WHA totals103134053497601148
NHL totals3311265

References