Miracle on Ice star Mark Pavelich was found dead at the age of 63

Mark Pavelich, the Iron Range fast center who played on the “Miracle on Ice” Olympic hockey team, was found dead at a mental health center. He was 63 years old.

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 pending.

The Minnesota Star Tribune, which first reported details of the death, said police were called to his residence at 8:30 a.m. local time. Those who responded to the scene say that he seems to have died a few hours ago when they arrived. He was last seen on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

“We are saddened to hear of the loss of the 1980 Olympic gold medalist Mark Pavelich.” US Hockey said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to Mark’s family and friends. (He is) forever a part of hockey history.”

Pavelich was treated at home as part of a civil pledge to assault his neighbor in Cook County, Minnesota, in August 2019, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. Pavelich thought the man had thrown away his beer.

He was charged with aggravated assault, but Judge Michael Cuzzo found him incompetent to stand trial because he was mentally ill and dangerous. According to the judge’s order in December 2019, a psychologist discovered that Pavelich was suffering from delusions and paranoia. Another psychologist found that he suffered from a mild neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injuries, probably related to repeated head injuries.

Pavelich witnessed Mike Eruzione’s winning goal against the highly-favored Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics. Eruzione wrote on Twitter on Saturday that Pavelich was a “true competitor” and a “huge reason for our success in Lake Placid.”

Pavelich sold his gold medal for over $ 250,000 in 2014, two years after his wife Kara died in an accidental fall.

Pavelich played at Eveleth High School and was an All-America selection at the University of Minnesota Duluth before winning a spot on the Olympic team.

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound striker spent five seasons with the New York Rangers and played briefly for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks, finishing with 137 goals and 192 assists in 355 regular-season games. NHL. He had a five-goal game for the Rangers on February 23, 1983, in an 11-3 victory over Hartford.

“Growing up in Hibbing as a kid, I used to go to the arena and sit with the equipment in my hand, waiting to see if I could skate with the ice rental teams,” former Minnesota and NHL player Pat Micheletti posted on Twitter. “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.

Rangers he said in a statement they were saddened by Pavelich’s death.

“His determination, passion and ability to play blindly brought him the adoration of Rangers fans during his five-year tenure in New York,” the team said.