11 Jun Mike Eruzione
Speaker: Mike Eruzione
Captain, 1980 Olympic Gold Medal-Winning US Hockey Team
Topics:
- The Miracle on Ice
- Teamwork: How to Surmount Obstacles and Win
- Always Go for the Gold!
Millions of Americans remember keynote speaker Mike Eruzione as the captain of the US Hockey Team that beat the odds to win the Gold Medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. It was his decisive winning goal that beat the Soviet team and stunned the world. That victory against the Soviets advanced the US Hockey Team to the Gold Medal Game where they beat Finland.
Dubbed the “Miracle on Ice,” Walt Disney studios has adapted the story of that Olympic triumph over the Soviets into a feature length film, titled Miracle, which was released in February 2004. The film stars Kurt Russell as legendary Olympic head coach Herb Brooks, and Patrick O’Brien Demsey as Mike Eruzione.
The 1980 Olympic Team received many accolades after winning the goal medal, including being inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. On December 2, 1999 the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team was given the ultimate compliment when Sports Illustrated voted their moment the #1 sports moment of the century. On February 8, 2002, Eruzione and his teammates had the honor of lighting the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A native of Massachusetts, Eruzione was a well-known sports talent, who excelled in all-scholastic baseball, football and hockey. While attending Boston University, Eruzione captained the hockey team his senior year and finished his college career as the third leading scorer in BU history. The years he played at BU, his team won four Eastern Collegiate Championships. Eruzione was regarded as the Best Defensive Forward in the Hockey East Conference and eventually was inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Eruzione played on two US National Teams and played two years with the Toledo Goaldiggers of the International Hockey League. The IHL rewarded him with the McKenzie Award, which is annually presented to the most outstanding American born player in the IHL. The following year Eruzione was chosen to join the 1980 Olympic Team. He was honored by being elected captain by his Olympic teammates.
The Miracle on Ice
Teamwork: How to Surmount Obstacles and Win
Always Go for the Gold!
