Miracle on Ice member Mark Pavelich found dead at treatment facility

A sad end for a hockey player who will be remembered for one of, if not the greatest moment in American hockey history. Mark Pavelich has been found dead at a mental health treatment facility at the age of 63. Pavelich played for the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won gold that year after defeating the Soviet Union in the medal round in what was considered to be a near impossible feat. He actually assisted on Mike Eruzione's winning goal against the Soviets.

Sadly, Pavelich had been declared mentally unfit after being charged with assaulting a neighbour around a year and a half ago in Minnesota. Pavelich told the court that he believed his neighbour had spiked his beer with some sort of drug after the two went fishing. In December of 2019, a judge declared Pavelich mentally ill and dangerous and he was committed to the treatment facility. He had showed enough progress last summer to be released to a less restrictive facility, but it was there that he was found dead Thursday night.

Pavelich's family has said he became increasingly confused, paranoid and borderline threatening over the years, something they believe was caused by chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, after repeated blows to the head as an undersized but tenacious forward in the NHL.

"Mark is the most kind and gentle person you'd ever know," said his sister Jean Gevik following the order that put him in a treatment facility. "This is a totally different guy."

Pavelich played for the New York Rangers for five seasons, as well as a brief stint with the Minnesota North Stars. He left the NHL in 1986 to play abroad, but would return for two games with the San Jose Sharks in 1991 before retiring from pro hockey. He recorded 329 points (137 goals, 192 assists) in 355 regular season games in the NHL.

Pavelich's wife died at the age of 44 after an accidental fall from their two story home in 2012. Pavelich sold the gold medal he won against Finland in the final game in 1980 for almost $263,000. He said he personally didn't need the money but wanted to make sure his daughter was financially secure.

Source: StarTribune

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