Comments on: Slap Shot: Who Were Those Guys?

By: Chris VanDusen

Chris VanDusen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:31:40 +0000

Great article for the Slap Shot fans!

By: FG

FG — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:03:38 +0000

I grew up in Endicott, NY and watched the Broome Dusters in the NAHL. Bill Goldthorpe played for the Syracuse Blazers and he was a terror to the in-state rivals Dusters. Ironically, he eventually played for the Dusters too. Also, Rod Bloomfield, star center on the Dusters played the stunt double of Paul Newman on the ice. What a great movie, like caddie shack for golf. LOL

JLpens: I was at that game in Binghamton…Do you remember Paul Stewart?

By: Patricia

Patricia — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:23:56 +0000

I bought this movie ages ago and love it. The Goon Squad Hudson’s went about in the funniest way. I am glad you enjoy it too.

By: JLpens

JLpens — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:46:08 +0000

LOL, I was still in high school and got caught on camera during the final parade scene as I was marching by. No speaking parts or anything like that. Don’t know how much access you folks have to the Penguins but there was a book called “Slap Shots and Snapshots: 50 Seasons of Pro Hockey in Johnstown”. Dana Heinze was a contributor to the project. Might be tough to find to buy but if you know him, he may be able to hook you up and sell you a copy. Lots of facts about Slap Shot and some good general stories regarding minor league hockey in general and some of the players who passed through here during the first 50 years. You’d be surpised with some of the names that’ll pop up.

By: Rick Buker

Rick Buker — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:06:51 +0000

Great post, JLpens! The more I delve into “Slap Shot,” the more surprised I am to learn that a lot of the storyline is loosely based on actual events. It wasn’t all that much of a departure from what hockey was really like back in the “outlaw” days of the 1970s.

Okay, you’ve peaked my curiosity. Did you play a small role in the movie? Or did they feature you as an extra? Did you live in Johnstown at the time?

By: JLpens

JLpens — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:42:02 +0000

Great stuff but since I somehow got my ugly mug into this movie (not by design) here’s a couple of more tidbits you may be interested in. The movie was based on the 1974-75 Johnstown Jets and they used players from the 75-76 roster to make the movie. The Jets were affiliated with the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the NAHL snd won the league championship. How they intertwined these players into the movie was interesting. There were actually 3 Carlson Brothers that played on the team, Steve and Jeff were in the movie but Jack Carlson was called up to the parent club so he couldn’t participate in the movie so in stepped Dave Hanson. Hanson was a brawler who was called “Killer” by the locals. This worked it’s way into the movie with Dave “Killer” Carlson (Dave’s a Killer!!, Dave’s a mess). One of the turning points of the Jet’s Championship year didn’t turn up in the movie thought. One night in Binghampton, the home team all came out for the warmups wearing funny nose and glasses. This led to a big brawl and the Jet’s responded by taking off and winning the championship. The Player Ned Brophy (the guy who peed his pants) was played by longtime Jet John Gofton and the ref who tossed Paul Newman out the game was Dick Roberge, a Jet who scored the most points in team (and minor league) history. And no, there was never a striptease in real life but we’re still not sure about Hanrahan’s wife…..