Ice Miracle star Mark Pavelich is found dead at 63 in a mental health treatment center where he was admitted after “beating his neighbor with a metal pipe”
- Pavelich helped in the winning goal at the 1980 turn of the USSR
- After the 1980 Olympics, Pavelich went on to play for a decade in the NHL
- In 2019, Pavelich faced four criminal charges for beating his neighbor with a metal pole, but was found to be incompetent and hospitalized in a madhouse.
- 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”, died at age 63, after being found at a residential treatment center in Minnesota.
Before his death, Pavelich was receiving mental health treatment at Eagle’s Healing Nest, where he was admitted after assaulting a neighbor in August 2019.
The Star Tribune reports that the cause of Pavelich’s death is not yet known, but that his body was taken to a coroner’s office.
He had not been seen since about 8 pm on Wednesday night and had probably been dead for several hours when the police were called to the center around 8:30 am on Thursday.
Miracle on Ice team member Mark Pavelich passed away at age 63
Pavelich was at a treatment center in Minnesota, where he was receiving mental health treatment
Pavelich faced four criminal charges after beating his neighbor with a metal pipe, which left James Miller with broken ribs, a bruised kidney and a fractured vertebra, among other injuries.
However, a judge found Pavelich incompetent to stand trial in December 2019 and was admitted to a treatment facility.
This summer, he was transferred to the treatment center, where he ended up dying.
He was due to go to court on Tuesday because of his commitment to the treatment center.
“Our company is heartbroken that we have lost our friend and legend,” said Carolyn Bruno, a lawyer who represents Pavelich in his hospitalization case.
‘Recently, Mark was full of hope and renewal for the future. He had been thriving on the new facility since he left St. Peter.
Pavelich provided decisive help in the turning point of the USSR in the game ‘Miracle on Ice’ in 1980 (February 1980 exhibition between the US and the USSR)
The team would be immortalized by the 2004 film ‘Miracle’ (game ‘Miracle on Ice’ in the photo)
Pavelich is best known for playing for the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1980, which rocked the Soviet Union at one of the most famous sporting events of all time before beating Finland in the gold medal contest.
Pavelich gave two assists in the game, including Mike Eruzione’s assist for the winning goal in the 4-3 game against the USSR.
He was portrayed by Chris Koch in the dramatization of these 2004 Olympics, ‘Miracle’.
After the 1980 Olympics, the Minnesota native went on to play in the NHL for a decade, playing for the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks.
Pavelich (right) would play in the NHL for a decade with three teams, including the New York Rangers
In 355 games of the regular season, Pavelich scored 137 goals and gave 192 assists.
Hard times followed Pavelich after his NHL career ended in 1992.
Pavelich’s second wife, Kara, died in 2012 after falling off a second-story balcony. She was 44 years old.
In 2014, Pavelich sold his 1980 Olympics gold medal for $ 262,900, claiming he wanted to provide financial security for his daughter.
It was purchased by Brian Raduenz, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who attended some college and college games at Pavelich.
Pavelich is the second member of the famous ‘Ice Miracle’ team to die, after defender Bob Suter passed away in 2014 of a heart attack.