‘Miracle on Ice’ player unfit to stand trial
A member of the famed 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey team was found incompetent to stand trial on charges of beating a neighbour in an alleged attack that his sister linked to possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
In a hearing on Monday, Cook County District Court Judge Michael Cuzzo told Mark Pavelich, 61, that a psychologist’s report “indicates you need some assistance to fully understand” the criminal proceedings. The case against Pavelich was suspended, according to the Star-tribune, while authorities petition to have Pavelich civilly committed for treatment.
Pavelich was taken into custody in Minnesota’s Cook County on Aug. 15 after James Miller, his 63-year-old friend and a neighbour of 20 years, told authorities that Pavelich had struck him with a metal pole after they returned to Pavelich’s home in Lutsen, Minn., from a day of fishing. According to the criminal complaint, Pavelich had grown angry, accusing Miller of “spiking his beer.”
Pavelich was charged with secondand third-degree assault, possession of an illegal shotgun, and possessing a gun with a missing serial number. Miller suffered cracked ribs, a bruised kidney and a fracture to one of his vertebrae, as well as bruises.
Last summer, Pavelich’s sister, Jean Gevik, described behavioural changes she believes stem from “all the concussions and the blows he had” during an NHL career.
His family began seeing changes about five years ago and believes that Pavelich has CTE, a degenerative brain disease that’s been linked to erratic behaviour and deaths among hockey and football players.
“Mark is the most kind and gentle person you’d ever know,” Gevik told the Star-tribune.
“This is a totally different guy.” Pavelich and the U.S. Olympic team vaulted into history with their stunning 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union in a semifinal game. Pavelich assisted on Mike Eruzione’s winning goal. The U.S. went on to beat Finland in the gold-medal game in Lake Placid.