"These are the 'Real' Hansen Brothers from Camrose and Augsburg College in Minneapolis Minnesota. Many have seen the three Hanson Brothers in the 1977 movie slapshot. The story of the Hansens has an unexpected twist near the end." Gary Zeman
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This Article compiled and written by Gary Zeman (Author & Editor of Alberta on Ice - the History of Hockey in Alberta from 1893-1985/86) outlines the fascinating story of the Hansen Brothers of Camrose County, and the City of Camrose, Alberta and their international hockey story, which begins over 120 years ago.
To see the full story click the button halfway down this page. Gary thanks:
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Around 1910-11, John and Marie (Scotvold) Hansen moved from South Dakota to farm on 1 and 1/2 Sections near Camrose (SE-15-47-20 W4th) in the County of Camrose. They needed a big farm for their 3 girls (Mae, Martha and Ann) and 7 boys. (Julius, Joe, Louis, Emil, Oscar. Emery and Alfred).
The Hansen Brothers were becoming well known as hockey players in Camrose and Edmonton.
One story is about Joe. Joe ended up charging some snacks and chocolate bars at a local Chinese restaurant. He told the owner that he would pay later when he sold his pig. His father John was in town almost daily to sell vegetables, dairy and meat products. He sold to businesses and Camrose Lutheran College. A few weeks later the restaurant owner was presented with a Hansen bill. The owner said he would possibly have to deduct Joe's expenses. John was surprised. The owner said Joe had told him he would pay when he sold his pig. John said, "Joe doesn't own a pig"! |
FIVE HANSEN BROTHERS go to AUGSBURG COLLEGE, Minneapolis, Minnesota
(Thanks to Mary Stimpson, Registrar's Office & Kristin Anderson PhD. Professor of Art History and Archivist, (now) Augsburg, University, Minneapolis, Minnesota for assistance given). It is the hockey season of 1927/28. Julius, Joe, Louis, Emil and Oscar end up playing hockey at "tiny" Augsburg College. The male and female student population is less than 400. The team basically consisted of the Hansens and a goalie. It must have been a surprise for this location to have such skilled players? There were no hockey scholarships at Augsburg for "farm boys" from Camrose, Alberta, Canada. The five were born in South Dakota. One of the major competitors for Augsburg was the army team stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The Fort were talented but were invariably defeated by the college, thanks to the Hansen brothers. Rolf Felstad of the Minneapolis Times - Tribune reported that a fight between the two clubs was stopped in a sudden manner. A melee ignited when Oscar Hansen was crushed into the boards on a heavy check by an army player. Brother Emil observed his family member lying in a heap. He fought the army player and both benches cleared. It was a fight to the finish. An army commander did not appreciate what was happening. He came to centre ice and pulled his revolver. Emil and the rest of the pugilists immediately ceased fighting. It is not known what the Administration at Augsburg said to the Hansens when they returned to the Lutheran College. The army club was fortunate that a younger Hansen brother, Emery was still in Camrose. Emery was playing with the junior Camrose Flyers. Emery did end up in Minnesota. He played professional hockey with the St Paul Saints. That may have been close to six Hansens for the army to scrap with! |
The Augsburg Auggies were becoming well known. They expected to win every game. Another match vs Fort Snelling had the Auggies dominating play. Oscar thought he would wake up his own goalie, Wallace "Moose" Swanson and help Uncle Sam. He fired the puck into his own net. Moose woke up.
A moment later, Oscar took the puck through the army team and scored. Moose commented that it was sometimes difficult to stay alert …and awake in goal with the Hansens. Moose lost his shutout in the 4 - 1 victory. |
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
US teams were being considered for the 1928 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The US Olympic Committee delayed the selection of a team. The reasons for this were never known. The Universities of Boston and Minnesota were offered the opportunity to compete. The Minnesota Gophers decided this would take too much time from classes and the cost would be too great. Boston University bowed out. Eleleth Junior College, Minnesota could not come up with the funds. Even Harvard was not ready or able for the Olympic venture. It finally came down to "tiny" Augsburg College in Minneapolis to accept the Invitation to represent the USA at the 1928 Olympics. William S Haddock, of Pittsburgh, Chairman of the US Olympic Hockey Committee finally had a team.
Augsburg had one problem. They would have to raise 1/2 of the money to go. They needed $4,500.00. In 1928 a carton of milk 10c ,coffee 50c a lb, a car $400.00, gas 20c a gallon, average house price $2,500.00, post card 1c, letter 2c and 2 blocks of salt for $1.80.
The team did not even have a bank account. First National Bank's Vice President J G Byam was named treasurer of the Hockey fund. Contributions poured in. Then Samuel O Severson pledged $2,500.00. Severson had taught English and Chemistry at Augsburg from 1904 - 1915. In 1906 he also became Augsburg's first Athletic Director. The University of Minnesota Grad later became Principal of Franklin Junior High in Minneapolis.
The South Side Commercial Club of Minneapolis promised a large donation. Plans were made for a benefit game with Augsburg's old rivals Fort Snelling. The Minneapolis Figure Skating Club and two speed skaters would combine for an entertainment package. Everything was quickly falling into place.
The Hansens were also ready to donate. There was 10,000 bushels of grain stored in Camrose valued at $1,500! Meanwhile, the Camrose Canadian Newspaper was headlining the US Olympic Team.
The Canadian reported on January 19, 1928. "When the amateur hockey team representing the United States at the Olympics to be held in St.Moritz, Switzerland, sails from New York, five Camrose players will be with them to participate. These boys are well known, not only to hockey fans but also to the public generally. Their parents live just north of Camrose. Mr. and Mrs. John Hansen have every reason to be proud of their sons, Julius, Joe, Emil, Louis and Oscar who will lead the attack for the American team."
CRUSHED
With time running down, Willam Haddock, who had selected the Augsburg team received a telegram from the Secretary of the Olympic committee.
"Major General Douglas MacArthur instructs me to inform you that the Hockey team recommended is not regarded as a representative team and certification by the American Olympic committee is disapproved." (MacArthur would later become one of the few US Five Star Generals in WW2.)
A HANSEN SON COMMENT
In 1994 one of Oscar’s sons, David, said: "The Olympics story was a shame. My dad and uncles really got taken. Augsburg really got taken. That could have put the school on the map. If they would have gone to the Olympics, they would have won, hands down."
US teams were being considered for the 1928 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The US Olympic Committee delayed the selection of a team. The reasons for this were never known. The Universities of Boston and Minnesota were offered the opportunity to compete. The Minnesota Gophers decided this would take too much time from classes and the cost would be too great. Boston University bowed out. Eleleth Junior College, Minnesota could not come up with the funds. Even Harvard was not ready or able for the Olympic venture. It finally came down to "tiny" Augsburg College in Minneapolis to accept the Invitation to represent the USA at the 1928 Olympics. William S Haddock, of Pittsburgh, Chairman of the US Olympic Hockey Committee finally had a team.
Augsburg had one problem. They would have to raise 1/2 of the money to go. They needed $4,500.00. In 1928 a carton of milk 10c ,coffee 50c a lb, a car $400.00, gas 20c a gallon, average house price $2,500.00, post card 1c, letter 2c and 2 blocks of salt for $1.80.
The team did not even have a bank account. First National Bank's Vice President J G Byam was named treasurer of the Hockey fund. Contributions poured in. Then Samuel O Severson pledged $2,500.00. Severson had taught English and Chemistry at Augsburg from 1904 - 1915. In 1906 he also became Augsburg's first Athletic Director. The University of Minnesota Grad later became Principal of Franklin Junior High in Minneapolis.
The South Side Commercial Club of Minneapolis promised a large donation. Plans were made for a benefit game with Augsburg's old rivals Fort Snelling. The Minneapolis Figure Skating Club and two speed skaters would combine for an entertainment package. Everything was quickly falling into place.
The Hansens were also ready to donate. There was 10,000 bushels of grain stored in Camrose valued at $1,500! Meanwhile, the Camrose Canadian Newspaper was headlining the US Olympic Team.
The Canadian reported on January 19, 1928. "When the amateur hockey team representing the United States at the Olympics to be held in St.Moritz, Switzerland, sails from New York, five Camrose players will be with them to participate. These boys are well known, not only to hockey fans but also to the public generally. Their parents live just north of Camrose. Mr. and Mrs. John Hansen have every reason to be proud of their sons, Julius, Joe, Emil, Louis and Oscar who will lead the attack for the American team."
CRUSHED
With time running down, Willam Haddock, who had selected the Augsburg team received a telegram from the Secretary of the Olympic committee.
"Major General Douglas MacArthur instructs me to inform you that the Hockey team recommended is not regarded as a representative team and certification by the American Olympic committee is disapproved." (MacArthur would later become one of the few US Five Star Generals in WW2.)
A HANSEN SON COMMENT
In 1994 one of Oscar’s sons, David, said: "The Olympics story was a shame. My dad and uncles really got taken. Augsburg really got taken. That could have put the school on the map. If they would have gone to the Olympics, they would have won, hands down."
THE 6th HANSEN
Emery Hansen went to Minneapolis after the 1928 Olympics to play professional Hockey and then came back to farm. His cousin, Evy Scotvold also played professional Hockey in Minneapolis. |