Hansen attended University of Minnesota where he played National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I hockey with the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), registering 36 goals, 41 assists, 77 points, and 155 penalty minutes in 149 games played.
He is currently playing with Ässät in the Finnish Elite League. In his sophomore year was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team. On April 12, 2012, the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League signed Hansen to a two-year entry-level contract.
He spent the next two seasons playing with the Springfield Falcons, the Blue Jackets" American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.
Following the 2014 season, the Blue Jackets did not give Hansen a qualifying offer, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent. On August 26, 2014, Ässät announced it had signed Hansen to a two-year contract.
