Steve Carlson hosts 'Slapshot Movie Tour Challenge' as a thank you to Johnstown community

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — It's been 45 years since the hockey-themed, world-famous Slapshot movie was filmed in Downtown Johnstown.

The First Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial was the prime location for the movie's countless goals, fights, and laughs.

"They wanted to get actors to do our roles, but they couldn't skate well enough."

That's what Steve Carlson told 6 News in a one-on-one interview -- at the Johnstown Amtrak Train Station -- where the Hanson Brothers made their film debut.

We asked Carlson how he turned from a professional hockey player into an award-winning actor overnight.

"We read for them, carefully. They offered us a job. We negotiated for about 30 seconds, and then we said yes, we'll do it," Carlson said.

The Hanson Brothers made thousands of appearances at hockey games, special events, and fundraisers all over the world.

Carlson said they've raised over $7 million for a variety of charities over the years.

After touring since the 90s, the pandemic and a life-threatening diagnosis brought all of that fun to a screeching halt.

"After COVID was all done, I was ready to hit the road again, and start meeting and greeting people. I had bad news where I was diagnosed with stage four cancer of the throat," he told 6 News.

Carlson is now happy to report that he is currently cancer free with big plans for his future and post-COVID world.

Carlson played for a variety of professional hockey teams throughout the United States, and was even a Johnstown Chiefs coach.

But in the meantime, Carlson has been visiting the Slapshot movie filming locations around Downtown Johnstown.

"It's just an awareness of where all the scenes were being filmed in Johnstown and talk about the inside scoop of what happened during those days. It also gives the people that don't live in Johnstown the chance to see the scenes -- of what the town looks like now from 1976 -- from when we did the filming," he told 6 News.

This week, he has been broadcasting the sights to his 43,000 followers on The Hanson Brothers Facebook Page.

He's calling it the Slapshot Movie Tour Challenge as a way to promote the Johnstown area.

"I wanted to let the people that have been following Slapshot for all of these years see what Johnstown is all about now," Carlson told 6 News.

The War Memorial, Johnstown Police Department, Central Park, Train Station, and other memorable movie spots have been the highlights of his 'live' reports.

"It brings back what old time hockey used to be all about -- what the game used to be all about in Johnstown here -- how the arena was always filled when you used to play. Bringing back the history of the game of hockey in Johnstown," he said.

While it's been a walk down memory lane for him, Carlson said he's really doing this tour as a "thank you" to the Johnstown community.

"I want to thank all the people in Johnstown -- and the surrounding areas -- for the support and the prayers they've sent me through my trying times. It helped a lot," Carlson said.

While Carlson has lived all over the country, he chose to settle and raise his family here in Johnstown, in the city that brought him fame and fortune.

Carlson said he's now excited to get back out on the road in-person, but will keep with his virtual appearances in the meantime.

"It brings you back down to earth a little bit, and say okay, this is what my purpose is, and that's what I want to do," Carlson told 6 News.

If you missed Steve Carlson around town this week -- but would still like to check out the movie locations -- you can any time.

Download the Visit Johnstown, PA! app, click on the Challenges tab, and click on the Slap Shot Movie Tour Challenge.

For more information on that tour, you can contact the Visit Johnstown office.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfqMGmwsRmmpqqnKi8r3nHqKqtq12ouaK80qGmrWWdpMOqsYytpq6qXZi1orjLnqWgnV2WwG6tjK2fmqabYsawwYytpmain527tMDOsKVmm5%2Biura6yK2w