Mark Pavelich, the gritty undersized center who helped boost the 1980 U.S. ice hockey squad to gold-medal glory in Lake Placid, is dead at 63.
Pavelich died Thursday at a Minnesota residential treatment center, people close to the athlete told the Star Tribune.
The cause of death is unknown.
Cops were called to the residence after Pavelich hadn’t been spotted since Wednesday evening. Emergency officials said he appeared to have died several hours earlier prior to their arrival, according to the outlet.
Pavelich, who had been receiving mental-health treatment for several months, was under commitment for a 2019 violent assault, according to the Star Tribune.
He was charged with beating neighbor James Miller, who suffered a fractured vertebrae, bruised kidney and cracked ribs during a 2019 fishing trip. Pavelich suspected Miller of spiking his beer.
Recently, Pavelich’s family had witnessed a change in his behavior, noting that he was paranoid. They added that they believed he suffered from the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy — CTE — for numerous skull shots he had taken during his career due to his relatively small 5-foot-8 stature.
“Mark is the most kind and gentle person you’d ever know,” explained his sister Jean Gevik in a previous interview to the Star Tribune. “This is a totally different guy.”
Pavelich spent five seasons with the New York Rangers as an undrafted center.
During the 1982-83 season, he netted a career-best 37 goals en route to a 75-point season. After his Rangers stint, he spent the 1986-87 season with the Minnesota North Stars before moving to Europe. He concluded his NHL career in 1992 with the San Jose Sharks.
The 1980 U.S. Olympic squad was a heavy underdog when it faced off against the mighty Soviet squad, the four-time reigning champion, in the semifinals. The stunning 4-3 victory landed the Americans in the title game against Finland.
As the final seconds of the game ticked away, sports commentator Al Michaels famously shouted, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
The U.S. would rally for a 4-2 win against Finland to secure the gold.
