By Cary Shuman
It did not go unnoticed that Mike Eruzione was the final inductee to take the podium at the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame Dinner July 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, N.Y.
In a room full of hockey legends that included fellow inductees Ed Westfall of the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders, Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders, and famed broadcaster Sam Rosen, it was Eruzione that the committee accorded the honor of climaxing a truly special evening.
As Chief Executive Office Rene LeRoux told the gathering, “It’s a pleasure to have you here. What you did in 1980, the team that you led, the team that you captained, will never be forgotten.”
All Eruzione, captain of the gold-medal winning 1980 Olympic team did in Lake Placid, N.Y., was score the winning goal versus the Soviet Union and produce what Sports Illustrated called “the greatest sports moment of the 20th century.”
“When you look at the names of the people who have been inducted, and to be part of that group of people is pretty special,” Eruzione began humbly.
What followed was a brilliant speech filled with captivating stories about his beginnings as a hockey player, his superb multi-sport athletic career, the importance of having a strong work ethic in everything you do (stating that he was inspired by his father’s work ethic), and ultimately as the leader of the “Miracle on Ice” team that brought America to its feet.
Eruzione’s humorous anecdotes were marvelous. He told one story about he visited his dermatologist, and the young doctor saw a replica of Eruzione’s gold medal around his neck.
“The doctor looked at it and he goes, ‘Lake Placid. I was there last year. Do you know that’s where the U.S. hockey team won the gold medal? They have a museum and an arena. Have you ever been there?’’’
“I look at him, and I go, ‘I was on that team,’ said Eruzione. “He goes, ‘no you weren’t.’ “I said, no, I was on that team.’ He goes, Oh my God!’’’
“So, I go home, and I tell my wife [Donna Eruzione] the story and I said, ‘What do you think?’ “And she says, ‘I think you need a new doctor.’’’
(A video of Mike Eruzione’s acceptance speech at the Hall of Fame Dinner is available on YouTube.)