Mark Pavelich, the Iron Range speed center who played on the Olympic hockey team “Miracle on Ice”, was found dead in a mental illness treatment center. He was 63.
Mike Groll / AP
Officials in Anoka County, Minnesota confirmed Friday that Pavelich died Thursday morning at the Eagle’s Healing Nest in Sauk Center, Minnesota. The cause and manner of death are still under treatment.
The Minnesota Star Tribune, which was the first to report details of the death, said police were called to his home at 8:30 a.m. local time. Those who responded to the scene said he appeared to have been dead for several hours upon arrival. He was last seen on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
“We are sad to hear of the passing of 1980 Olympic gold medalist Mark Pavelich,” USA Hockey said in a statement. “We offer our deepest condolences to Mark’s family and friends. (He is) forever a part of hockey history.”
Pavelich underwent treatment at home as part of a civil union for assaulting his neighbor in Cook County, Minnesota, in August 2019, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Pavelich thought the man had spiked his beer.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 09: American hockey player Mark Pavelich # 16 of Team USA in action during the 1980 exhibition game against the Soviet Union on February 9, 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Get
He was charged with assault, but Judge Michael Cuzzo found that he was incompetent to face trial because he was mentally ill and dangerous. According to the judge’s December 2019 order, a psychologist found that Pavelich was suffering from delusions and paranoia. Another psychologist found that he suffered from mild neurocognitive impairment due to traumatic brain injury, likely related to repeated head injuries.
Pavelich assisted Mike Eruzione’s winning goal against the highly favored Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics. Eruzione tweeted Saturday that Pavelich was a “real competitor” and a “big reason for our success at Lake Placid.”
Pavelich sold his gold medal for more than $ 250,000 in 2014, two years after wife Kara accidentally died in a fall.
Pavelich played at Eveleth High School and was an All-America roster at the University of Minnesota Duluth before earning a spot on the Olympic team.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound forward spent five seasons with the New York Rangers, playing briefly for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks, finishing with 137 goals and 192 assists in 355 regular-season NHL games . He had scored a five-goal game for the Rangers on February 23, 1983 in an 11-3 win over Hartford.
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“As a kid growing up in Hibbing, I went to the arena and hung around with stuff in hand to see if I could skate with the teams that rented the ice,” said former Minnesota and NHL player Pat Micheletti. tweeted“Mark Pavelich always let me join the Eveleth guys. He taught me so much about the game.”
Pavelich’s sister, Jean Gevik, did not immediately respond to a message.
The Rangers said in a statement they were saddened by Pavelich’s death.
“His determination, passion and dazzling playing skills earned him the admiration of Rangers fans during his five-year tenure in New York,” the team said.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 1981: Ron Duguay # 10, Barry Beck # 3, Mark Pavelich # 40, and head coach Herb Brooks pose for a portrait for an NHL game around December 1981 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios vi