Nancy Dowd spent time with her brother's Johnstown Jets team and recorded locker-room conversations for the dialogue.
The real team's Hanson brothers led the team in penalty minutes; Dave Killer Carlson draws on Dave Killer Hanson.
The cited budget is $6 million and the gross $28 million.
The colloquial Quebec French dub helped make the film a major favorite among French-speaking Canadians.
Rinks included Cambria County War Memorial, Starr Rink at Colgate, Utica Memorial Auditorium and Onondaga County War Memorial as Hyannisport.
Reggie was based on Long Island Ducks player-coach John Brophy, whose name was reused for the drunken opposing center.
The Jets' later history included a flood interruption, a short return and closure; the Carlson brothers were born close together and led the team in penalty minutes.
Jim Carr's toupee was modeled on Johnstown sportscaster Bill Wilson's wig.
The Carlson brothers said extras threw real punches during the crowd-fight shoot. Summer filming required pretending it was cold in heavy clothing.
Oglethorpe drew on Goldie Goldthorpe, credited with 25 fighting majors before Christmas in one season.
Real crowd fights and a pregame fight triggered by opponents wearing novelty glasses supplied incidents for the film.
Nancy Dowd's subsequent work included Coming Home and uncredited work on Straight Time, North Dallas Forty and Ordinary People, plus SNL; her brother played Oglethorpe.

Rating not yet verified

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:33:24Read transcript

No written Ebert review was located. Reports say both television critics initially disliked it and later reconsidered; Siskel's reversal is described more confidently. No star score is stated.

Al Pacino for Reggie; Nick Nolte for Ned; Jack Carlson replaced by Dave Hanson.

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:09:59Read transcript

Al Pacino wanted Reggie, but Hill chose Newman; the hosts joke about accommodating Pacino's height.
Jack Carlson's WHA playoff call-up led to Dave Hanson replacing him as a brother and Jerry Houser playing Killer Carlson.
According to the performer playing Johnny Upton, Nick Nolte sought Ned Braden, but former university player Ontkean won the role. The hosts prefer the outcome and Nolte in North Dallas Forty.

A real NHL enforcer on Syracuse, especially Dave Schultz.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:23Read transcript

Put an actual NHL enforcer on Syracuse: Dave Schultz, John Wensink or Garry Howatt. Clark Gillies and Bob Nystrom arise in the discussion.

Romo and Collinsworth both work.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:51Read transcript

Collinsworth riffs on Swamptown and Oglethorpe; Romo riffs on the sexual taunt and the Hansons fighting before the puck drops. Both work.

Ownership finances, hockey logistics, sudden crowds, Ned’s career and Francine’s parade route.

In the discussion (13)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:42Read transcript

The Chiefs should already have more fighters before the Hansons, even if Johnny is meant to fill that role.
The supposedly excellent goalie gives up many goals; perhaps the defense is responsible.
Syracuse's five championship-game additions appear to ignore a trade deadline.
Anita's preference for a tax write-off over selling the team is disputed; others explain loss offsets and question the team's value.
McGrath's claim that NHL scouts have contracts ready seems dubious.
Reggie seems implausibly free to stand around taunting Hanrahan during play.
Lily's accent is hard to place despite the Cardinals hat; Crouse's natural speech may explain it.
Reggie's arrangement with Lily is unclear: provoking Ned versus the casual romantic fluidity of the small-town setting.
The owner's identity should be researchable, though slow communication and the players' lack of investigative effort offer explanations.
The Hansons' debut unexpectedly draws a full crowd despite previously empty games; a connecting scene seems missing.
The team apparently never practices, leaving the Hansons off the ice for over a week; a road trip is offered as a defense.
Ned should have found a place among the many NHL and WHA teams, unless his behavior makes him seem unstable.
Francine could take another route instead of driving through the parade; her indifference to hockey is defended.

Ned’s short NHL career and early divorce; the Hansons’ debut as a must-attend fictional game.

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:34:06Read transcript

The Eddie Pratt tragedy is imagined as either paralysis or an on-ice killing.
Ned's NHL future is imagined as cut short by a knee injury before college coaching; the Bradens are expected to divorce before the decade ends.
The Hansons' debut is considered among the sporting events one would most want to attend, alongside Hoosiers, The Natural, Teen Wolf, The Longest Yard, Field of Dreams and Rocky IV.
Rocky III is raised before Rocky IV is favored for attending the fight in Russia; Eddie is then jokingly suggested and disowned as a Knicks movie.

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:38:09Read transcript

All the Right Moves keeps the pairing in the same filming city. Butch Cassidy and The Sting are also accepted; Shoresy episodes extend the hockey milieu.
The World According to Garp offers a George Roy Hill pairing.