He also appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the three Hanson Brothers.
[1] Carlson played in the World Hockey Association with the New England Whalers, Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Fighting Saints and in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, scoring nine goals for the Kings.
[1] While playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA, he was the roommate of Wayne Gretzky during his rookie season.
[citation needed] Since retiring from hockey, Carlson has run a power skating school in Johnstown, PA.
On October 4, 2021, Carlson was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma.