# 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.

## 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. 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. While playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA, he was the roommate of Wayne Gretzky during his rookie season. Carlson is one of six players to ever be on a team with Gordie Howe and a team with Wayne Gretzky.
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. 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.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | WHA totals | WHA totals | 173 | 33 | 47 | 80 | 132 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 23 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 52 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
Source

## 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 |

## Transactions

* Selected by Minnesota Fighting Saints, 7th round, #102 overall 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.
* Selected by Detroit Red Wings, 8th round, #131 overall 1975 NHL Amateur Draft.
* Traded to Edmonton (WHA) by Minnesota (WHA) with Mike Antonovich, Bill Butters, Jack Carlson, Dave Keon, Jean-Louis Levasseur and John McKenzie, January 1977.
* 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.

## 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) |