Instagram Photo Leads Police to "Sheep Shot' Homage to Hanson Brother

Someone used the Instagram photo-sharing site to post a photo of the missing statue inspired by the filmed-in-Pennsylvania hockey movie 'Slap Shot.' Our sister Patch in Michigan explains how police located it.

A fiberglass hockey-playing sheep modeled after one of Slap Shot's beloved Hanson Brothers, stolen two months ago from a public art display in downtown Rochester, MI, has been found. The sheep is missing his ears, one black skate and his wire-rimmed glasses — in a nod to Steve Hanson, the brawling hockey-playing character from the 1977 movie filmed in Johnstown, PA and inspired by the Johnstown Jets hockey team. The Steve Hanson character, played in Slap Shot by real-life former player Steve Carlson, was one of three dim-witted on-ice teammates of the late star Paul Newman. Another of those Hanson Brothers — a former professional hockey player named Dave Hanson in real life as well as on the screen — now is executive director of Robert …

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Esmark CEO Spearheads Effort to Relocate Hockey Team to 'Slap Shot' Town

James Bouchard, chairman of Esmark, is leading a group of investors to bring a minor league hockey team from Alaska to Johnstown.

Esmark CEO James Bouchard is leading the charge on a deal to bring an Alaskan minor league hockey team to the Western Pennsylvania city that inspired the cult movie hit Slap Shot, according to the Associated Press. Bouchard, chief executive and chairman of Sewickley-based Esmark Inc., is heading the deal that would relocate the North American Hockey League's Alaska Avalanche to Johnstown, about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh. Bouchard's group of investors, Johnstown Sports Partners LLC, are scheduled to announce the deal later today at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, where the junior league franchise team will play, the AP reports. Bouchard told the AP he's "excited about bringing a new brand of junior hockey to the region that …

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'Slap Shot' Stars Take Over RMU Sports Center for Charity Game

Stars from the 1977 Paul Newman film entertain on the ice at Robert Morris University's arena.

Fans filled the stands at Robert Morris University's Island Sports Center Saturday to watch Slap Shot stars reunite for a good cause.  Dave Hanson and brothers Steven and Jeff Carlson appeared in the annual "Pucks and Sticks" charity hockey game as their alter egos the Hanson Brothers, stars of the 1977 hockey comedy Slap Shot. The game featured local celebrities, including KDKA-TV's Ross Guidotti and RMU hockey head coach Derek Schooley, vying against Pittsburgh-area EMS staffers. Funds raised at the event will benefit the Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation.  Hanson now serves as the director of the Island Sports Center. Event organizer John Chamberlin said Slap Shot's cult status among hockey fans has grown in the three decades …

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Jenna Staul

9:07 am on Monday, April 2, 2012

Thanks for sharing, John!   more ›

'Slap Shot' Stars Take to the Ice at RMU

Cast members from the 1977 movie will appear Saturday at the Island Sports Center.

The original Hanson Brothers from the 1977 Paul Newman film Slap Shot will hit the ice Saturday at the Island Sports Center for a charity hockey tournament.  Dave Hanson and brothers Steve and Jeff Carlson, who played the violence-prone Hanson brothers trio in the hockey cult classic, will sport their signature dark-rimmed glasses and Chiefs jerseys, appearing in character at the game.  Hanson, who played professional hockey from 1974 to 1984 with the Detroit Red Wings and the defunct Minnesota North Stars (now the Dallas Stars) organizations, now serves as the executive director of Robert Morris University's Island Sports Center on Neville Island.  The puck drops at 7 p.m. Saturday at the ice arena and the film's stars will appear for an …

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