Reliving the ‘Miracle'

Business Mayor

02-05-2025

LAKE PLACID — Steve Brescia of Medford Lakes, New Jersey, was in Utica for the IIHF Women's World Championship in April 2024, when he ran into some fellow Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp attendees.
Brescia hadn't attended the camp in a few years, so some of those campers told him that he needed to come back. It's safe to say it didn't take much pleading.
Brescia was one of 67 hockey players from around the world — alongside 11 of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team members — who took part in the ninth annual MOI Fantasy Camp, which was held here between Sunday, April 27 to Wednesday, April 30.
It was his fifth time attending the camp, and he keeps coming back because of the people he's met over the years.
'The first time you come here, it's all a blur because it's the '80 guys,' he said. 'Then it becomes like a family reunion. Everybody keeps track of each other during the year and some people catch up, but it's just about the people. Hockey is like the seventh or eighth thing I say when I talk about this camp.'
The camp director and former ORDA employee, Katie Million, who is currently the director of women's national team programs for USA Hockey, said with 51 returning campers, it's a bit of a 'dysfunctional family reunion.'
'But it's a family reunion nonetheless,' she said. 'Whether it's the campers themselves or the campers and the 1980 team, it's just become a really family atmosphere and seeing friends again for the annual reunion.'
Eleven of the 17 surviving members of 1980 hockey team participated in the fantasy camp this year: Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Dave Christian, John Harrington, Steve Janaszak, Mark Johnson, Rob McClanahan, Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Buzz Schneider and Phil Verchota.
Living teammates who did not attend were Steve Christoff, Jim Craig, Jack O'Callahan, Mike Eruzione, Dave Silk and Eric Strobel. Eruzione, who usually attends the camp, called in during the camp's 1980 player panel discussion, which was held at RiverTrail Beerworks in Saranac Lake.
Defenseman Bob Suter died in 2014, forward Mark Pavelich died in 2021 and fellow forward Mark Wells died in 2024.
In addition, two other non-players from the 1980 team were in attendance during this year's camp: assistant coach Craig Patrick and head athletic trainer Gary 'Smitty' Smith.
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Family affair
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Oftentimes, campers and even the 1980 players describe the camp as a 'family.' But for Ken Morrow, a defenseman for the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, he was serious when he said it.
This year, Morrow's son Evan took part in the camp. Evan had previously attended the camp in 2022, but this was his first time as a player.
Ken said it was a thrill to see his son take part in this camp, especially in a building that holds so many great memories for him. Evan thought differently, especially since his dad was his coach.
'I think he was trying to trade me all camp, but he heard my price was too high,' he joked. 'He was having to pay the other guys to even consider (taking) me.'
Having his dad as a coach reminded Evan of his youth hockey days, when Ken coached his team for a few years.
'You don't get to replicate that too often, so the fact that we get to replicate it here in Lake Placid, which is such a special town, is unbeatable,' he said.
Through the years, Evan has met some of the 1980 players, but being on the ice with them is special, and he added that they've still got it.
'Phil Verchota still puts me to shame, John Harrington scores like three goals a game, Davey Christian scores like three goals a game,' he said. 'They've still got that skill in them, and it's awesome to share the ice with them and the fact that they can even still do what they do is just so surprising to see in an awesome way.'
This year, four of the 1980 players took to the ice with the campers; those included Christian, Harrington, Verchota and Mark Johnson.
'I think the campers, they get a kick out of being on the bench with us, and being on the ice and passing the puck around and just being teammates,' Johnson said. 'It makes it fun, and just as long as we keep skating and keep upright, we'll probably keep doing it.'
Brescia said one of his favorite memories at the camp came a few years ago, while playing with the 1980 guys.
'I scored on Janaszak, with an assist from Pav and Buzz,' he said. 'I can die after that.'
Smiles were seen all throughout the camp from both campers and 1980 players. Ken Morrow said some of the 1980 players might have as much fun as the campers.
'I think they might have more fun, to be honest,' Million said.
Johnson, who coaches women's hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has led them to eight national titles, has gone to nearly every fantasy camp. Despite spending the entire week beforehand in Paris for hockey, he didn't want to miss this camp.
'I'm going to Florida for league meetings with the coaches (after this),' he said. '(But) it's worth it and it's not that long of a trip from the standpoint that it's not a couple of weeks, it's only getting here on a Sunday and we head out on Thursday. The days are busy, and they're packed, but there are a lot of things they get done during that time, so it's fun.'
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Mark Wells
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This year's fantasy camp was missing one of its biggest personalities in Mark Wells. The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey member, who attended the eight previous camps, died at the age of 66 on May 18, 2024.
Wells struggled with health issues for several years before he died. It kept him from doing a lot of things, but when the Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp was first formed in 2015, Million and other organizers made sure there was something that Wells could do here. They made Wells the camp commissioner.
'He took the role very seriously,' Million said.
Wells often sat near the bench used by the U.S. during the famed 'Miracle on Ice' game against the Soviet Union. He told players how they performed, good or bad. This past week, Wells' jersey lay on that chair.
'He was a special man and we are really missing him this year,' Million said. 'It's no different than missing Pav and Bob Suter, as well. Bob Suter never got a chance to come to this fantasy camp, but Pav was here for a few years and of course, Mark.'
Wells died nearly two weeks after attending last year's fantasy camp. Johnson said he was always a presence on the team just like Pavelich and Suter were.
'It's just sad because last year, when he was here, he was in a good place,' Johnson said. 'He was in a real good place with his health, his spirits were high and then shortly after we left here, he passed away, so it's tough.'
During the camp's opening ceremony, Wells' No. 15 jersey was lowered and raised once again from the rafters in honor of him.
'To see his number in the rafters with Bobby Suter and Mark Pavelich (is special),' Ken Morrow said, who also played college hockey at Bowling Green with him. 'Mark loved it, just like we all do. He was our commissioner, so he sat up here and he was the guy. He made a lot of friends here as well as all of us.'
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The camp
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The fantasy camp is treated like a real professional hockey season, with a draft, games and a tournament with medals over three days.
On Monday, campers skated on the Olympic Center's 1980 Herb Brooks Arena as members of the 1980 U.S. hockey team evaluated their skills. The Olympians then conducted a draft that afternoon, selecting players to fill four teams: Red, White, Blue and Gold. After the teams were filled, had their team meetings and named their teams, the players participated in practice time on the ice.
Teams played three games each, Tuesday morning and afternoon and Wednesday morning, before moving on to either the Bronze Game or the Gold Game Wednesday afternoon. A medal ceremony was held afterward, before the official fantasy camp photo was taken on the ice.
Million said they're already looking forward to the 10th anniversary, and have some ideas on how to make it special and different to really celebrate it.
'Every year we say, 'Are we going to do another camp?' and we always, at least myself and the '80 guys, talk about getting to 10 years and seeing what happens,' she said. 'Do they still want to keep coming? Do campers still want to come? The overwhelming answer has been yes, but fingers crossed.'
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