Screenshot of WCVB-TV interview with Mike Eruzione from February 24, 2020
In 1980, Mike Eruzione took down the Soviet Union.
The Winthrop, Massachusetts native was captain of the 1980 Winter Olympics Team USA men’s ice hockey team. He scored the go-ahead goal with 10 minutes left in the third period of the team’s 4-3 win over the Soviet Union, a major upset known now as the “Miracle On Ice.” Team USA later beat Finland 4-2 and took the gold medal.
Shortly after winning gold, Eruzione went out on top. He retired from hockey. Since then, he has worked as a motivational speaker, television hockey analyst for National Hockey League and the Olympics on ABC and CBS, an assistant hockey coach, an author, and even a voice actor.
Now 69 years old, Eruzione serves as the Director of Special Outreach for Boston University. In this role, he “travels the country to meet with alumni and donors, host University events and solicit leadership support for Terrier Athletics,” according to B.U.’s web site.
NewBostonPost conducted a telephone interview with Eruzione about his hockey career and life since. It’s below.
1. In 1980, from an American point of view, the U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. Olympic hockey game seemed like Good versus Evil. Did you ever become friendly with any of the Russian players?
I never talked to any of them, but some of my teammates ended up playing with them in the NHL when they finally let them flee the Soviet Union to come over and play. Dave Christian, Mike Ramsey, and Neal Broten played with some of those players, but they told me that they never talked about the game.
2. What’s something about competing in the Olympics that the ordinary spectator might not realize?
I think the pressure of it is so different. It’s not Boston, Chicago, or Los Angeles. You’re representing your country and that’s a great honor to do that. I’ve said many times that other than serving in the military, being a police officer, or a firefighter, there’s nothing greater than putting on a jersey that says Team USA on the front. You’re playing for a whole different reason than you would be just for your town or city.
3. What’s your favorite piece of Mike Eruzione memorabilia or merchandise that you’ve come across over the years?
I sold all of my memorabilia quite a few years ago, so all I have now are my skates that I wore, which I’m probably going to sell, and then my Olympic gold medal, which is my prized possession.
4. You’ve met United States presidents, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden. What stood to you to you about them in your interactions with them?
I played golf with President Trump, and I’ve known him for a long time since he played celebrity golf before he was a president, so that was kind of cool to play with the president. You don’t get that opportunity too often. And I MC’d a dinner a long time ago with President Reagan. I got to sit next to him at a dinner in St. Louis. Those were two pretty memorable ones.
5. As an Olympic gold medalist, what do you think of males competing in women’s sports?
My opinion is I think it’s unfair. I listen to Bruce Jenner or Caitlyn Jenner on this one when she came out and said she thought it was unfair. If anybody would know it better than anybody, it would be Caitlyn, so I think it’s unfair, and I don’t think it’s right. I guess there are rules they’re gonna put in place with how high testosterone can be to compete against females as a male, but I don’t agree with it, and I don’t think it’s fair.
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Screenshot of WCVB-TV interview with Mike Eruzione from February 24, 2020 
