Synopses & Reviews
Even though it's been 30 years since its cinematic debut, Slap Shot has endured the test of time. Starring Paul Newman, the movie depicts the hilarious antics of the Charlestown Chiefs, a tough-as-hell minor league hockey team. Perennial losers and in financial trouble due to the mill closing in town, the team is slated to fold at season's end. So, in a desperate ploy to sell tickets, the team's stingy owner decides to goon it up by bringing in the toughest hombres he can find: The Hanson Brothers. With their long hair, thick-taped glasses, foiled-up brass knuckles, and pugilistic desire to beat the crap out of anybody that messed with them or their teammates, the Hansons stole nearly every scene they were in en route to becoming instant superstars both on and off the ice. The trio's ringleader, Dave Hanson, now tells-all in his highly anticipated biography. Not only will readers get a behind-the-scenes look at what life was like on the set during the filming of the movie, they will also be treated to stories from the actors and players themselves. A master storyteller, Hanson also talks candidly about what life was like afterwards, as he climbed the ladder into the ranks of professional hockey. His journey from the ponds of St. Paul, Minnesota, to the National Hockey League was full of obstacles and adversity, but he made it through sheer determination and a passion for the game. Because of the popularity of the movie, Hanson found himself with a big target on his back whenever he hit the ice. As a result, he was constantly forced to drop the gloves and defend himself--earning the respect of his peers, one opponent at a time. Hanson would later go on to become a coach, and he sharesa lot of the life lessons and wisdom that he has learned along the way.
Synopsis
More than 30 years after its cinematic debut, Slap Shot remains one of the most popular sports movies of all time, and this book is actor Dave Hansons firsthand account of its making. Starring the legendary Paul Newman, the movie was based on the hilarious and outrageous antics of the fictitious Charlestown Chiefs, a tough-as-nails minor league hockey team in the early 1970s. In financial trouble and due to fold at the end of the season, they bring in the Hanson Brothers—three of the toughest hockey players around—in a desperate bid to sell tickets. What ensues is pure comic genius. Here, Dave Hanson—who played ringleader Jack Hanson in the film—not only opens the vault and dishes the dirt on the making of the movie, from the bench-clearing brawls and the practical jokes on set to the legendary partying that went on during filming, but also explores how the movie changed his and many of the cast and crews lives forever.
About the Author
Dave Hanson is best known for playing “Jack,” one of the unforgettable Hanson Brothers in the movie Slap Shot. He is a former professional hockey player who played 10 seasons, including stints with three World Hockey Association teams and the NHLs Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota North Stars. He currently manages the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh and continues to make Slap Shot-related promotional appearances around the country. He lives in Pittsburgh. Ross Bernstein is the bestselling author of nearly 50 sports books, including Raising Stanley: What It Takes to Claim Hockeys Ultimate Prize and Wearing the “C”: Leadership Secrets from Hockeys Greatest Captains. His work has been featured on CNN and ESPN and in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. He lives in Eagan, Minnesota. Bob Costas has been a sportscaster for NBC for more than 30 years. He lives in Clayton, Missouri. Gordie Howe was four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings. He won six Hart Trophies as the leagues most valuable player and six Art Ross Trophies as its leading scorer. He lives in Royal Oak, Michigan. Jeff Carlson is a retired professional hockey player best known for his role in the movie Slap Shot as one of the Hanson brothers. He lives in Muskegon, Michigan. Steve Carlson is a retired professional hockey player and a former minor league hockey coach best known for his role in the movie Slap Shot as one of the Hanson brothers. He lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin.