Dave Hanson of “Slap Shot” fame wasn’t a shoo-in to play hockey.
“I thought I was moving on to play collegiate football,” Hanson told Gus Frerotte and Dave Hager during this week’s “Huddle Up with Gus” podcast. “I had a couple opportunities to go on and play collegiate football.”
An ankle injury while playing baseball, however, derailed those plans.
Herb Brooks — who later coached the 1980 U.S. team to the Olympic gold medal and served in various capacities with the Penguins — recruited Hanson as coach at the University of Minnesota. Hanson, who grew up in Minnesota, jumped at the chance.
“To play for Herbie Brooks and play for the Gophers is a kid’s dream in Minnesota,” Hanson said.
Listen to the entire podcast below.
