Thirty years later, players and actors who appeared in “Slap Shot” recall their time in Johnstown as if it happened this hockey season.
They now work and live in places such as New York City, Pittsburgh, Quebec, Kenosha, Wisc., Burlington, Vt., and Tillsonburg, Ontario.
But for one season in the movies, they were a part of Johnstown.
Here are their stories – tidbits to ponder the next time you pop “Slap Shot” in the VCR or DVD player:
Andrew Duncan
Character: Charlestown Chiefs broadcaster Jim Carr
On a bad hair day: “I remember watching the local sportscaster in Johnstown and studying him. That was the guy I was playing. When I went for the wig, (director) George Roy Hill said, ‘I don’t care what you get, just get something outrageous.’
“I went to Glosser’s and went to the wig department. The stylist started showing me wigs that made it look like you didn’t have a wig. I said, ‘No.’ Then I saw one she pushed aside and I said, ‘That’s the one.’ I stuck it on my head and looked in the mirror and started laughing. George looked at me and started laughing. He said, ‘If you dare, I dare.’ ”
Yvon Barrette
Character: Denis Lemieux
On how he landed the role of the likeable Chiefs goalie: “I played hockey for fun as an amateur, but I am an actor (not a hockey player). I had to audition in Montreal. There was something like five other people. They were looking for a short French Canadian.
“We had a lot of fun doing that. The character was funny. It was fantastic for a young actor, 29, to work with an actor like Paul Newman and a great director like George Roy Hill.”
Paul D’Amato
Character: Tim “Dr. Hook” McCracken
On acting with Newman and hockey players: “That set was so comfortable between the actors and the hockey players. We had all gone to hockey practice, we had all played for many years. It was second nature. The acting, I had studied for years and had gone to college for it.
“While I was in college studying acting, I played hockey. It was taking some of the things I did best and putting them together. I wasn’t the only one. Everybody else was like that.
“It was not intimidating. It could have been intimidating, but Paul Newman was such a good guy, Strother Martin was such a good guy.”
Christopher Murney
Character: Long Island Ducks goaltender Tommy Hanrahan
On an impromptu college reunion: “I grew up in New England and I played pond hockey. I went to the University of New Hampshire with (“Slap Shot” actor) Mike Ontkean. He used to watch me do plays in the Theater Deptartment and I used to watch him play.”
John Gofton
Character: Presidents forward Nick Brophy
On getting wet in the infamous boarding scene: “That’s 30 years ago. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for people like us who never get that opportunity. The scene – you just tried to let it happen. The boarding scene, we did it 13 times before they picked what they needed. The real big part was when I got rammed into the boards and came off the boards crossing my legs like I peed my pants.”
Allan Nicholls
Character: Chiefs captain Johnny Upton
On saying good-bye to Johnstown: “I got to know a lot of the people in Johnstown. We had created kind of a mini “Slap Shot” society and we formed bonds with a lot of the citizens there.
“It was a celebration of a style of hockey and some hockey renegades, but also was a celebration of small-town minor league hockey. I remember when we left town, we left in a bus. People were standing outside the hotel and waving good-bye. It was a nice little send off. On those little signs at the hotel it said, ‘Good bye Slap Shot.’”
Steve Carlson
Character: Steve Hanson
On a hockey player’s approach to filmmaking: “That’s when I was 19 or 20. I got a nice paycheck. You look at it that way. They offer for you to do a film. You don’t realize how big it is until 10, 20, 30 years later. You don’t realize that as you’re making the film. You’re saying, ‘We’ll do it. Why not?’ ”
Dave Hanson
Character: Jack Hanson
On life in the movies: “We didn’t think it was going to be huge at all. That wasn’t even a thought in our mind when we were filming.
“At the time it was a fun summer thing to do. They offered us a seven-year movie contract after that. We said, ‘We’re not movie actors, we’re hockey players.’ We turned them down.”
Local Sports
Snapshots from Slap Shot
- Local Sports
-
-
Reds nip Bucs in 13th inning
Jay Bruce ended Jason Grilli's saves streak with a solo homer in the ninth, and Brandon Philips singled with the bases loaded in the 13th inning on Wednesday night, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Derrick Robinson and Shin-Soo Choo singled off Vin Mazzaro (3-2) with one out in the 13th and Joey Votto was walked intentionally. Phillips singled up the middle to end it. -
Patton rebounds with win over Portage
Patton manager Ray Eckenrode was concerned about the hangover from Tuesday night’s tough 1-0 loss at Ebensburg.
After a slow start on Wednesday night, the host Red Men started swinging the bat, producing 11 hits in a 6-1 win over Portage in Cambria League American Legion action. -
MIKE MASTOVICH| Rookie manager righting Laurel Auto Group ship
Casey Craig is new to his role as GM of the Laurel Auto Group franchise in the AAABA League.
But Craig has seen enough of Mark Thomchick to realize the first-year manager has brought instant respectability to a team that finished eight games under .500 last season. - Local baseball in brief 6/20/2013
-
Martella's Pharmacy fashions six-inning victory over Rail Birds
Through three scoreless innings at Point Stadium, the Altoona Rail Birds held their own against Martella’s Pharmacy in a AAABA League interleague contest.
But Martella’s patience at the plate and aggressiveness on the base paths turned a close game into a 10-run mercy rule affair on Tuesday. -
Pirates ruin Latos’ winning streak
Pedro Alvarez singled home a pair of runs in the first inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended Mat Latos’ streak of 21 regular-season starts without a loss, beating the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Latos (6-1) hadn’t lost a regular-season game since last August, setting a club-record streak of avoiding defeat. He couldn’t overcome Pittsburgh’s three-run first inning. -
Checkered flag falls at Dog Hollow
There will be no more howling in the hollow.
Through social media, Dog Hollow Speedway in Strongstown - located close to the Indiana/Cambria county line - announced on Monday evening that it would no longer be in operation. - Local baseball in brief 6/19/2013
-
Ihm captures Sunnehanna title
Steven Ihm held or shared the lead in each of the first three rounds at the 60th Sunnehanna AmateurTournament for Champions.
For Sunday’s final round, Ihm continued his dominance.The University of Iowa product shot a blistering 4-under 31 on the front nine to seize a commanding lead that Ihm would not relinquish in winning the tournament with an 8-under 272. -
Ihm takes slim lead, Cazaubon charges to within one stroke
From the way he moves around the course to the way he approaches shots, there’s nothing slow about the golf game of Rodolfo Cazaubon.
So, maybe it’s no surprise that the Tampico, Mexico, native rocketed up the leaderboard Saturday during the third round of the 60th Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament of Champions. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
Ex-Hit Man's Past Is a Shock to Some Neighbors
Fans: Gandofini 'Put New Jersey on the Map'
Does Future of Human Race Depend on Kansas Mine?
Reining in 'Bad News' Sports Parents
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
