Steve Carlson

Steven Edward Carlson (born August 26, 1955) is an American former professional ice hockey forward and a former minor league hockey coach. He played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979 and the National Hockey League during the 1979–80 season. He also appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the three Hanson Brothers.

Steve Carlson
Born	(1955-08-26) August 26, 1955 (age 69) Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	Los Angeles Kings New England Whalers Minnesota Fighting Saints Edmonton Oilers
NHL draft	131st overall, 1975 Detroit Red Wings
WHA draft	73rd overall, 1974 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Playing career	1973–1987

Biography

Carlson was born in Virginia, Minnesota. He appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the three Hanson Brothers, who were based on Carlson and his brothers and teammates.^[1] Carlson played in the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers, Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Fighting Saints and in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, scoring nine goals for the Kings.^[1] While playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA, he was the roommate of Wayne Gretzky during his rookie season.^[2][1] Carlson is one of six players to ever be on a team with Gordie Howe and a team with Wayne Gretzky.^[3]

Since retiring from hockey, Carlson has run a power skating school in Johnstown, PA. He and his brothers also make numerous public appearances, primarily at hockey-related events and charities, as their Hanson Brothers characters.^[2] The trio also appeared in two sequels to Slap Shot, Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice, 2002 and Slap Shot 3: The Junior League, 2008.

On October 4, 2021, Carlson was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma.^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973–74	Marquette Iron Rangers	USHL		54	30	49	79	72		12	4	4	8	5
1974–75	Johnstown Jets	NAHL		70	30	58	88	84		12	6	4	10	39
1975–76	Minnesota Fighting Saints	WHA		10	0	1	1	23		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Johnstown Jets	NAHL		40	22	24	46	55		9	5	4	9	6
1976–77	Minnesota Fighting Saints	WHA		21	5	8	13	8		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	New England Whalers	WHA		31	4	9	13	40		5	0	0	0	9
1977–78	New England Whalers	WHA		38	6	7	13	11		13	2	7	9	2
1977–78	Springfield Indians	AHL		37	21	15	36	46		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Edmonton Oilers	WHA		73	18	22	40	50		11	1	1	2	12
1979–80	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		52	9	12	21	23		4	1	1	2	12
1980–81	Houston Apollos	CHL		27	13	21	34	29		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Springfield Indians	AHL		32	10	14	24	44		7	2	2	4	39
1981–82	Nashville South Stars	CHL		59	23	39	62	63		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Birmingham South Stars	CHL		69	25	42	67	73		9	1	4	5	4
1983–84	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		63	9	30	39	70		10	7	3	10	8
1984–85	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		76	18	29	47	69		15	2	6	8	4
1985–86	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		66	9	27	36	56		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		67	12	13	25	32		—	—	—	—	—
WHA totals				173	33	47	80	132		29	3	8	11	23
NHL totals				52	9	12	21	23		4	1	1	2	7

Source^[5]

Coaching career

Season	Team	League	Position	Games	Wins	Losses	Ties	Overtime Losses	Playoff Result
1986–87	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL	Assistant coach	80	35	37	0	8	Out of Playoffs
1987–88	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL	Assistant coach	80	13	58	9	0	Out of Playoffs
1988–89	Johnstown Chiefs	ECHL	Head coach	60	32	22	0	6	Lost in Finals
1989–90	Johnstown Chiefs	ECHL	Head coach	60	23	31	0	6	Did not make playoffs
1990–91	Johnstown Chiefs	ECHL	Head coach	64	32	29	0	3	Lost in the Second Round
1991–92	Johnstown Chiefs	ECHL	Head coach	64	36	23	0	5	Lost in the Second Round
1992–93	Memphis Riverkings	CHL	Head coach	60	26	27	7	0	Lost in the First Round
2007–08	Kenosha Thunder (High School)	WIAA	Head coach	20	8	12	1		Lost in the First Round

^[6]

Transactions

• Selected by Minnesota Fighting Saints, 7th round, #102 overall 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.^[6]
• Selected by Detroit Red Wings, 8th round, #131 overall 1975 NHL Amateur Draft.^[6]
• Traded to Edmonton (WHA) by Minnesota (WHA) with Mike Antonovich, Bill Butters, Jack Carlson, Dave Keon, Jean-Louis Levasseur and John McKenzie, January 1977.^[7]
• Traded to New England (WHA) by Edmonton (WHA) with Jack Carlson, Dave Dryden, Dave Keon, and John McKenzie for future considerations (Dave Debol, June 1977), Dan Arndt and cash, January 1977.^[7]

Hockey Cards

Year	Card	Set Name
1982–83	6	Birmingham South Stars [CHL]
1989–90	36	Johnstown Chiefs - Sheetz/Big League Cards [ECHL]
1991–92	1	Johnstown Chiefs [ECHL] (Coach)

^[8]

See also

• List of NHL players