The real life Jack Hanson refs Spiders/Muskies game!

March 3, 2011

Blah… Mediocre effort by the Spiders. Cody Yard scores the only goal with a flutterer from the corner. Spiders give up control of their own playoff destiny as they move into a tie with the Fighting Piranahas, but the Piranhas hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The highlight of the night though was the presence of Jack Carlson as the referee. Who is Jack Carlson you ask? Jack Carlson, along with his brothers Jeff and Steve, were the inspiration for the Hanson brothers in the movie Slap Shot. In his single season with the Jets, Jack Carlson rang up 246 PIM in just 50 games. Eat your heart out Jack Delsing!

While Jeff and Steve Carlson played their Hanson brother counterparts in the film, Jack had been called up to the Edmonton Oilers for the WHA playoffs shortly before filming began and had to bow out. Carlson continued his professional hockey career with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers, Minnesota North Stars, and St. Louis Blues.

So that was pretty awesome. But when the referee is the highlight of the game, you can guess the result wasn’t real positive.

The Spiders will take the ice next against the Warriors on Tuesday, March 8th at 6:30pm at St. Paul Academy Drake Arena.