SLAPSHOT Weekend Planned for Binghamton Hockey Fans

Hockey Fans and the Binghamton Devils are turning back the hands of time this weekend at the Floyd L Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The Devils are hosting "Slapshot Weekend" with a pair of home games.  Binghamton hosts Providence on Friday night at 7:05 and Rochester Saturday night also at 7:05.

Slapshot was filmed in 1976 and released in early 1977 and centered on life in and around minor league professional hockey in particular the Charlestown Chiefs the movie name of the Johnstown Jets. . The idea and origin of the movie came from Nancy Dowd, sister of Johnstown forward Ned Dowd.  She wrote the script for the movie after following the Jets and her brother's teammates during their North American Hockey League season. The movie became a big hit and has become legendary among hockey fans and sports fans around the world.

The Broome Dusters were in that same league.  11 Johnstown Jets appeared in the movie.  Broome Dusters Rod Bloomfield and Frank Hamill appeared in the movie as well numerous other professional hockey players from around the North American Hockey League and the old Eastern League.

Paul Newman starred in the movie along with a number of other well known actors and actresses.  Jerry Houser who played the role of Dave "Killer" Carlson and Allan Nicholls who appeared as Johnny Upton are in Binghamton and appeared earlier Friday on News Radio 1290 WNBF with Roger Neel to reminisce abut the making of the movie and talking about some of the behind the scenes memories they have about Slapshot. They are greeting fans and will hold VIP receptions before both  games with the Devils transforming into the Broome County Blades for the weekend.