Trivia for
Slap Shot (1977) More at IMDbPro »

• The referees in the game scenes wear red-striped jerseys instead of black, as was done in the now-defunct World Hockey Association.
  
  
• In 1992, Steve Carlson became the real-life head coach of the Memphis Riverkings, a Central Hockey League team.
  
  
• All the original songs in the theatrical release, as well as versions shown on T.V., were replaced by other songs on the VHS and DVD release.
  
  
• Many of the players in the game scenes (as well as the Hanson brothers) played for the Johnstown Jets, a team in the now-defunct minor-pro North American Hockey League. The Charlestown Chiefs were based on the Jets.
  
  
• The character Ned Braden is named for Ned Dowd, the brother of the film’s writer, Nancy Dowd. Ned Dowd was a player for the minor league team the Johnstown Jets whom the Charlestown Chiefs are based on.
  
  
• All three Hanson brothers played professional hockey either in the World Hockey Association and/or the National Hockey League
  
  
• Universal Pictures offered Steve Carlson, Jeff Carlson and David Hanson the chance to star in their own spin-off film. But all three turned it down to return to their professional hockey playing careers.
  
  
• Dick Roberge was the head coach of the Johnstown Jets in the 1974-1975 hockey season.
  
  
• Bruce Boudreau, head coach of the NHL's Washington Capitals, appears in the film wearing #7 for the Hyannisport Presidents. Boudreau was one of several players for the Johnstown Jets minor league hockey team that were used as extras.
  
  
• Nancy Dowd originally intended the film to be a documentary. George Roy Hill convinced her that it would be better served as a feature length-comedy.
  
  
• Michael Ontkean was a promising hockey player prior to becoming an actor, and was offered, but turned down, a contract from the NY Rangers.
  
  
• Shortly after the film opened, the Jets had to suspend operations for one season because a flood damaged their ice-making equipment. The franchise was eventually revived in the late 1980s and renamed the Johnstown Chiefs.
  
  
• Paul Newman's player-coach character Reggie Dunlop was based on John Brophy, a long-time minor-league player and coach. Brophy later coached the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs for 2 1/2 seasons. Michael Ontkean played college hockey at the University of New Hampshire.
  
  
• The Championship Trophy presented at the end of the movie was, in reality, the Lockhart Cup, which was representative of the North American Hockey League championship. To this day, it sits in the basement recreation room of Danny Belisle, where it has become a flower pot.
  
  
• Nancy Dowd wrote the script because her brother, Ned Dowd, was a professional hockey player. He also has a part in the movie, as well as being stunt coordinator and technical advisor.
  
  
• The character of Ogie Ogilthorpe was based upon Bill 'Goldie' Goldthorpe, a WHA and NAHL player in the '70s.
  
  
• Paul Newman has stated on many occasions that he had more fun making this film than on any other film he has starred in, and that it remains his favorite of his own films.
  
  
• When Lily moves into Reggie's apartment, you can see a framed picture of a hockey player on the apartment wall. The player is the St. Louis Blues' Bobby Plager.
  
  
• Though decried by much of the NHL upon release - many league higher ups felt fans would lump the brawl-filled 1970s NHL with the brawl-filled minor league featured in the film - the movie is still a staple on NHL buses and team charters. It's not uncommon for NHL players born years after the movie's release to name it as their favorite movie. In locker rooms, players refer to reporters who write an untrue rumor with conviction as "Dickie Dunn."
  
  
• During rehearsals, Yvon Barrette was seriously injured when a puck hit him in the knee. Barrette was worried that he would be replaced with another actor. But George Roy Hill postponed shooting scenes featuring Barrette so that he could return to the film when he recovered. Barrette returned to filming 10 days later. But to prevent any further injury, Barrette was doubled by Ronald L. Docken during the hocking playing scenes.
  
  
• The Chiefs' bus driver was played by Cliff Thompson. Thompson was the bus driver for the Johnstown Jets, the real hockey team that the Chiefs are based on.
  
  
• Steve Carlson became the Head Coach of the Johnstown Chiefs East Coast Hockey League Team in 1988 until 1992. The Chiefs played their home games in the Johnstown War Memorial arena where the movie was filmed. The Chiefs franchise plays their home games in the same arena today.
  
  
• The Syracuse Bulldogs' stick boy was played by Danny Belisle's son, Dan Belisle Jr.
  
  
• Brothers Jack, Jeff Carlson and Steve Carlson were originally slated to play the Hanson brothers. However, Jack was called up by the Edmonton Oilers shortly before filming began. His part went to another member of the Johnstown Jets, David Hanson, who was supposed to play Dave "Killer" Carlson. Actor Jerry Houser was hired for that part.
  
  
• Al Pacino showed interest in the lead role but fell out with director George Roy Hill after he was asked if he could ice skate (Pacino considered the question "facetious"). Pacino later expressed regret that he had missed out on the film.
  
  
• Nick Nolte lobbied hard for the part of Ned Braden, but there was no time for him to learn how to skate. Don Most, who portrayed Ralph Malph on "Happy Days" (1974) also auditioned.
  
  
• Susan Kendall Newman, who appears briefly as a drug store clerk and is later seen in the stands at one of the games, is Paul Newman's daughter.
  
  
• Peter Strauss auditioned to play a role in Slap Shot (1977) but broke his leg whilst skating in the audition. He later appeared on "The Tonight Show" (1962) with his leg in a cast to lament his plight, and marvelled that the much older Paul Newman skated rings around him without so much as a scratch.
  
  
• According to David Hanson (during a Q&A on his 2008 book tour) much of the Hanson brothers' on screen antics were unscripted and improvised on the set. For example the toys in the hotel room were the Carlson brothers' own.
  
  
• Near the end of the film, the radio broadcaster is interviewing one of the Hansen brothers in the locker room, and he refers to Charlestown as "the flood city". Slap Shot was filmed in Johnstown, PA (of 1889 Johnstown Flood fame), and the year that Slap Shot opened (1977), Johnstown was flooded for the third time in its history (the other two being 1889 and 1936). Johnstown's unofficial nickname (even prior to Slap Shot's release) is "the flood city."
  
  

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