Born in Cumberland, Wisconsin, Hanson played his amateur hockey with the USHL's St. Paul Vulcans. As a rookie pro with the NAHL's Johnstown Jets in 1974-75, Hanson made his presence felt with 34 points and 249 penalty minutes. He remained a regular in the minors and played briefly with the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints and New England Whalers in 1976-77 before making his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in 1978-79. Although he played ten games with Detroit, Hanson spent the majority of the 1978-79 season in the WHA, with the Birmingham Bulls. After getting a taste of the NHL with Detroit, Hanson also played a few games with the Minnesota North Stars in 1979-80 before returning to the minors until his retirement in 1984.

During his playing career in the 1970s, Hanson starred as "Jack Hanson" in the classic hockey movie "Slapshot".

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame