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Mike Eruzione
Hockey Playing Career in College & OlympicsMike Eruzione was born on October 24, 1954 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. He played youth hockey as a kid growing up and then continued playing hockey while he attended Winthrop Senior High School. He was chosen as the captain of his varsity hockey team while at Winthrop High School. After graduating Winthrop, he spent a year at Berwick Academy to improve his hockey skills.After his time at Berwick, Mike went off to college at Boston University. He would start on the BU hockey team, where he averaged over 20 goals a season during his four years at BU. In 1974, Mike was drafted 28th overall by the WHA New England Whalers in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft, but he would never play a game for them. Mike performance at BU earned him a spot on Team USA roster for the 1975 and 1976 Hockey World Championship tournament. After the tournament, Mike played in the (IHL) International Hockey League for the Toledo Goaldiggers. He won the rookie of the year award in 1978 and lead the Goaldiggers to the Turner Cup. Mike's strong performance with the Goaldiggers and his successful career at BU, caught the eye of U.S. Olympic coach Herb Brooks and he was invited to try out for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. Mike not only earned a spot on the roster, but became captain of the team. He provided strong leadership that was needed to bring together a young and talented core of players. Herb Brooks trusted Mike, and his decision would prove to be a great one.  In medal round of the tournament, the U.S. got matched up against the heavily favored Soviet Union in the semifinals. The Soviet Union team was the best hockey team in the world at the time. Nobody expected the U.S. to do anything against the Soviets, but under the guidance of their coach Herb Brooks and with Mike Eruzione leadership, the U.S. beat the Soviets 4-3 in the biggest upset in sports history. Mike not only talked the talk in the locker room and on the bench, but walked the walk on the ice. He lead by example, scoring what would be the decisive and winning goal in the 3rd period. Mike's winning goal against the Soviet Union has become one of the most played highlights in American sports, and was voted the greatest highlight of all time by ESPN viewers in March 2008. Life After HockeyAfter Mike won the Gold Medal with the U.S. team at Lake Placid, he retired from hockey, despite having contract offers from the New York Rangers. He felt that he'd reached the pinnacle of achievement in hockey already with the Gold Medal win at the Olympics.Mike pursued some different avenues. He has worked as a broadcaster, broadcasting NHL games for the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. He also has broadcast Olympic games working for CBS and ABC. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Mike and his 1980 U.S. Hockey teammates were chosen to light the caldron at the opening ceremonies. It was a very emotional and magical moment for Mike and his teammates.  After Mike's broadcasting career came to an end, he returned to his alma mater Boston University, where he was an assistant coach for the hockey team for three seasons. He is still at BU, but currently works as the Director of Special Outreach. Mike is also a member of several Halls of Fame and is a part time owner of a USHL franchise, the Omaha Lancers. He also works as a motivational speaker, speaking around the country at numerous corporate events. Two movies have been made based on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. One in 1981 and the other in 2004. In the 1981 version, Andrew Stevens played Mike Eruzione. In the 2004 Disney version, Patrick O'Brien Demsey played the part of Mike Eruzione.
1980 USA Hockey Team | 1980 Soviet Union Hockey Team | Miracle on Ice | Jim Craig | Herb Brooks | Miracle Movie
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