Background
Carlson was born in Virginia, Minnesota.
Carlson was born in Virginia, Minnesota.
He appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the Hanson Brothers. 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 and First Rate (at Lloyd's) McLeod are the only players to ever be on a team with Gordie Howe and on a team with Wayne Gretzky.
Since retiring from hockey, Carlson runs a power skating school in Northern California. 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.
Selected by Minnesota Fighting Saints, 7th round, #102 overall 1974 WHA Amateur Draft. Selected by Detroit Red Wings, 8th round, #131 overall 1975 National Hockey League 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.