|
Kevin: One of the Hanson Brothers, now fighting cancer, needs a little help |
|
|
|
|
|
When NHL players are asked to name their favorite movie, many often say Slap Shot. There’s something about that 43-year-old George Roy-Hill directed satirical comedy that makes many of us chuckle.
French Canadian goalie Denis Lemieux’s description of a trip to the penalty box makes me giggle every time.
“You go to the box, you know. Two minutes by yourself and...you feel shame, you know. And then you get free,” Lemieux tells a sportscaster.
The dialogue is humorous, bawdy and entertaining. It’s two hours of laughter and fun. Paul Newman brilliantly played Reggie Dunlap, player-coach of the brawling Charlestown Chiefs. Strother Martin is perfect as owner Joe McGrath. NHL coach Bruce Boudreau is in the movie as a player. And of course the bespectacled Hanson Brothers steal the show with their mannerisms and one-liners
The Hansons were portrayed comically by three real players, Jeff and Steve Carlson, plus Dave Hanson. All three played in the World Hockey Association and Steve and Dave Hanson played briefly in the NHL. Steve Carlson played the most NHL games, scoring nine goals in 52 games for the Los Angeles Kings in 1979-80.
Sorry to report today Steve Carlson is going through hard times. Carlson recently announced he was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help him pay expenses while he undergoes radiation therapy.
"On October 4, 2021, my world was flipped upside down,” Carlson posted on the site.
Carlson, 66, just didn’t play long enough in the NHL to qualify for a pension. He has been living on social security and Hanson Brothers appearance fees. He and wife, Vicki, need financial help for the out-of-pocket costs required for daily radiation and coinciding cycles of chemotherapy in Altoona, Pa. and Pittsburgh. He will need to stay in a hotel and there will be added expenses than they can handle.
They are trying to raise $40,000 and thus far they have raised $15,411. If you want to donate, here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-steve-carlson-put-on-the-foil?qid=f351f71c38465f69ce29ef32fc5e7ac0
Or, go to GoFundMe.com and search for Steve Carlson. His page will come up.
“Throughout my career-I have been involved extensively with numerous charity fundraisers, such as Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Hospital and many more,” Steve Carlson said on his GoFundMe.com page.. Helping others in need and raising awareness for these foundations has long been a passion for me and I was fortunate enough to help in raising more than 27 million dollars for those charities. Now, I am in need of such help.”
If Slap Shot has given you a few laughs through the years, or if you still quote lines from that movie, go to the page and donate a few dollars to help one of the Hanson. Put on the foil and fight for Steve Carlson.
If you have seen the movie, you will know what that means.
Join the Discussion:
»