April 1, 2009
By Harry Thompson
USA Hockey Magazine
Dave Hanson earned his fame as of one of the notorious Hanson brothers from the movie "Slap Shot." Today he earns his living running the RMU Island Sports Center in Pittsburgh. Now he can add the title of proud father of an NHL player to his hockey resume.
Hanson’s son, Christian signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, just days after his Notre Dame University team was shocked by Bemidji State in the opening game of the Midwest Regional tournament in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“Christian said he went from the worst day of his life to the best day of his life in the span of 48 hours,” said the proud dad while sitting behind his desk at the RMU Island Sports Complex, the site of the USA Hockey 18 & Under National Championships.
It is the same complex where the young Hanson honed his skills in the local youth hockey program. As the general manager of the Island Sports facility, dad is not only in charge of the day-to-day operations of the four-sheet facility, he is also a local celebrity who is always ready to play the role.
Prior to the Tier II game against between Summit Plastics of Michigan and Team Michiana from northern Indiana, Hanson paid a visit to the Michiana locker room to give the team a brief pep talk.
“I asked how many of them were Notre Dame fans, and they all raised their hands. Then I asked them how many of them knew who Christian Hanson was and they all raised their hands,” Hanson said. “I told them that Christian sat in the same locker room as they were in today. He had that dream and as they can see those dreams can come true.
“Then I told them not to forget to put on the foil before their game.”
The younger Hanson, a 6-foot-4, 228-pound center who has the size and skill around the net that pro scouts covet, finished his senior year with the Fighting Irish with 16 goals and 15 assists in 37 games.
In addition to making sure the facility is ready for action, Hanson will slip into his alter ego as one of the infamous Hanson brothers to emcee the opening ceremony on Wednesday night. He will also be on the ice for Thursday’s Easton Skills Challenge.
Hanson will put his host duties aside to make the five-hour drive across the state to Philadelphia, where Christian is scheduled to play in his first NHL game.
“I’m proud of my boy to begin with, but to see him go from a young kid to get the opportunity to reach for that goal and play in the NHL is amazing,” said dad, who enjoyed a long career in the minor leagues and a few games in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings.
“My plan was to be here all week but that’s all changed. I have to see my boy play in his first NHL game.” |