1980 "Miracle on Ice" legend, Mark Pavelich found dead at age 63....

          Mark Pavelich was a very big and integral part of USA hockey's upset win over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid on their march to the gold medal. This win is still considered one of, if not the biggest upset wins in sports history, but unfortunately the story of Mark Pavelich did not have the fair tale ending the "Miracle On Ice" team had.  On the morning of March 4th, Pavelich was found dead in a treatment facility in Central Minnesota. Pavelich died in Eagles Healing Nest where he was receiving treatment for mental health treatment. The gold medalist was under what's called "civil commitment"  for assaulting a neighbor with a metal pipe in August of 2019. According to the New York Post, Emergency police were called to Pavelich’s residence around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday after a reported death. No one had seen the ex-NHLer since 8 p.m. the previous day. Police say the cause of death was not immediately known.
         Pavelich recorded a goal and six assists during the 1980 Olympic games,  including an assist on Mike Eurzione's game winning goal against the once unbeatable Soviet team.  The Soviet game was known as " The Miracle on Ice", where young college kinds from all over the USA beat the Red Army hockey team, defying all the odds and giving a country hope at a time it needed it most. Days later, as Herb Brooks once said........."The Miracle was complete, my boys went on to beat Finland, capturing the gold medal and coming from behind once again". A story that will never be forgotten and I truly hope, that is the Mark Pavelich everyone remembers. Rest in Peace "Pav" you will be missed.
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