Miracle on Ice star Mark Pavelich is found dead at 63 in a mental health treatment center where he was committed after ‘hitting his neighbor with a metal pipe’
- Pavelich helped with the match goal in the 1980s upset of the USSR
- After the 1980 Olympics, Pavelich played a decade in the NHL
- In 2019, Pavelich imposed four charges for hitting his neighbor with a metal pole, but it was found that he was incompetent and committed to a mental facility.
- Pavelich is the second member of the ‘Miracle on Ice’ team to die
Mark Pavelich, who played a key role for the legendary Olympic team ‘Miracle on Ice’, has died at the age of 63 after being found in a residential treatment center in Minnesota.
Prior to his death, Pavelich received mental health treatment at Eagle’s Healing Nest, where he was committed after assaulting a neighbor in August 2019.
The Star Tribune reports that Pavelich’s cause of death is not yet known, but that his body was taken to a medical examiner’s office.
He was not seen around 20:00 on Wednesday night and was probably dead for several hours when the police were called to the center around 08:30 on Thursday morning.
Mark Pavelich, a member of the ‘Miracle on Ice’ team, has died at the age of 63
Pavelich was in a treatment center in Minnesota, where he received treatment for mental health
Pavelich laid four charges after hitting his neighbor with a metal pipe, which James Miller charged with ruptured ribs, a bruised kidney and a broken vertebra, among others.
A judge found that Pavelich was incompetent to stand trial in December 2019 and was committed to a treatment facility.
This summer, he was moved to the treatment center where he eventually died.
He was due to appear in court on Tuesday for his commitment to the treatment center.
“Our firm is sad because we lost our friend and legend,” said Carolyn Bruno, a lawyer representing Pavelich in his case.
‘Market was recently filled with hope and renewal for the future. He has thrived at the new plant since joining St. Peter left it. ‘
Pavelich assisted the game winner in the dismay of the USSR in the ‘Miracle on Ice’ game in 1980 (exhibition in February 1980 between the USA and USSR in the photo)
The team would be immortalized by the 2004 film ‘Miracle’ (‘Miracle on Ice’ pictured)
Pavelich is best known for playing for the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1980, which upset the Soviet Union in one of the most famous sporting events of all time before the team beat Finland in the gold medal match.
Pavelich provided two assistants in the match, including assisting Mike Eruzione for the winning goal in the 4-3 upset of the USSR.
He was played by Chris Koch in the dramatization of the 2004 Olympic Games, ‘Miracle’.
After the 1980 Olympics, the Minnesota native played a decade in the NHL and suited them for the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks.
Pavelich (right) would play for a decade with three teams in the NHL, including the New York Rangers
In 355 games in the regular season, Pavelich scored 137 goals and produced 192 assists.
Tough times followed Pavelich after finishing his NHL career in 1992.
Pavelich’s second wife, Kara, died in 2012 after falling from a second-floor balcony into their home. She was 44 years old.
In 2014, Pavelich sold his 1980 Olympic gold medal for $ 262,900, claiming he wanted to secure his daughter financially.
It was purchased by Brian Raduenz, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who attended some of Pavelich’s high school and college games.
Pavelich is the second member of the famous ‘Miracle on Ice’ team to die after defender Bob Suter died of a heart attack in 2014.