Charlestown Chiefs

In the movie Slap Shot, the Charlestown Chiefs played in the Federal League, a lower-tier professional league, in 1977. The team was based on the EHL and NAHL's Johnstown (PA) Chiefs and wore identical uniforms in the movie to what the Chiefs wore on the ice. The team is led by Coach Reggie Dunlop, portrayed by Paul Newman, and features a cast of colorful characters, including the infamous Hanson brothers. The Chiefs are known for their aggressive play, epitomized by their physical style of hockey and brawling tendencies.

Despite their lackluster performance on the ice, the Chiefs' true legacy comes from their chaotic and agressive style of play. Towards the end of the season, the teams slogan becomes "agressive hockey is back in town!" The team faces fierce competition from teams like the Hyannisport Presidents and the Peterborough Patriots among others, but their most memorable moment comes during their home game against the Syracuse Bulldogs, which features a brutal brawl. Their run in the league culminates in a championship game that cements their place in hockey movie history, with the Chiefs winning the league title over the Bulldogs in a rematch.

The movie was filmed across the arenas and towns of the old EHL and NAHL, with the NAHL existing at the time of the film's release in the late 1970s. Most of the around town shots were filmed in Johnstown, PA, an old steel mill city in western Pennsylvania. The Chiefs home arena is the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown, which still hosts hockey today. Other scenes show the Onondaga War Memorial arena in Syracuse, NY, and the Utica Auditorium in Utica.