Hanson was born in Cumberland, Wisconsin, and grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he eventually starred in football, baseball and hockey at Humboldt Senior High School.
Hanson continued playing hockey for the St. Paul Vulcans and for Herb Brooks's University of Minnesota college team.
Professional actor Jerry Houser was then cast as "Killer", the character based on Dave Hanson.
[2] He has two daughters and one son, Christian, a center whose professional career included time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, AHL teams and the Norwegian champion Stavanger Oilers.
[3] As of 2015[update] he resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and manages a sports center at Robert Morris University.