Latest news with #Eruzione
Fox News
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Mike Eruzione dons Johnny Gaudreau USA jersey ahead of 4 Nations final against Canada
Boston's TD Garden was the place to be on Thursday night, and a blast from the past got the 4 Nations final crowd even more jacked up than it already was. The USA and Canadian hockey teams are back on the ice for the 4 Nations Face-Off championship, five days after three fights in the first nine seconds occurred in their first game in best-on-best format since 2016. The two teams were the top point-getters in round-robin play (Canada owned the tiebreaker over Sweden), and are meeting again in Boston. Before the game, two greats of the sport were celebrated. Wayne Gretzky and Mike Eruzione served as honorary captains for their respective countries. Eruzione's presence alone gets any American crowd going, as he was the captain of the 1980 Miracle on Ice team. But he gave the crowd something extra to cheer about. Eruzione came onto the ice rocking the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau, the late NHL All-Star who, along with his younger brother, were killed by an alleged drunk driver in August. Gaudreau played for the United States in the World Juniors in 2013, winning the gold medal that year. He also participated in the Ice Hockey World Championships five times. Gaudreau's presence has been felt among this year's 4 Nations club, as a USA jersey bearing his name and No. 13 has often been hung in the locker room. Unlike Saturday, there were no fights at the puck drop. But, similarly to that contest, Canada got out to a 1-0 lead. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
'Miracle on Ice' hero Mike Eruzione on national anthem boos at 4 Nations: 'I was very disappointed'
If former Olympic gold medalist Mike Eruzione were still playing hockey, he might have found himself in one of those fights between Team USA and Team Canada during their 4 Nations Face-Off game on Saturday in Montreal. Three fights occurred in nine seconds at the start of the game between the longtime rivals, which occurred shortly after many in the Bell Centre crowd booed "The Star-Spangled Banner." Of course, the fights didn't occur as a result of the booing — Team USA's Matthew Tkachuk, who took part in the first fight, admitted they were planned by himself, his brother Brady and J.T. Miller well before the game. But, at the very least, the players have since said that the boos got their juices flowing — and it did the same for Eruzione. "I was very disappointed in that situation. It's a hockey game, it has no political ramifications," Eruzione said on "The Will Cain Show" hours before the 4 Nations Face-Off final between the two teams on Thursday. The "Miracle on Ice," which turns 45 years old on Saturday, was when Eruzione's game-winning goal put the U.S. team, a heavy underdog full of college players, over the top against the Soviets, who had dominated international hockey for years. Eruzione was the captain of that team, which would go on to win the gold medal two days later. That USA-USSR matchup, played in Lake Placid, New York, had much higher stakes, given the Cold War. "1980 was different. We played the Soviets, and it was a big battle from a political standpoint," Eruzione said. But politics are now indeed playing a role in this rivalry, especially for the fans. For Canadians, it has been their response to President Donald Trump and his proposed 25% tariffs on goods coming from Canada to the U.S. and his proclamations that Canada could become the "51st state." USA fans responded by booing the Canadian national anthem in Boston before Canada's game against Finland on Monday, and it should not surprise anyone if it occurs again on Thursday — but Eruzione is hoping it can be avoided. "I hope we don't hear anything like that tonight," he said. Puck drop at Boston's TD Garden is set for 8 p.m. ET. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Fox News
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Famed ‘Miracle on Ice' captain praises Team USA ahead of 4 Nations final vs Canada: ‘Best team in the world'
If the anticipation for the rematch between Team USA and Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off wasn't high enough, Mike Eruzione's speech will just about do it for every supporter of the Stars and Stripes. The NHL teased their "4 Nations Face-Off: Unveiled" show, a behind-the-scenes look at the NHL stars playing for their countries, with the "Miracle on Ice" captain making a speech at a team dinner. The "Miracle on Ice" American team was the famous squad that took down the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics to win the gold medal. Eruzione, 70, was captain of that famed team. While it's unknown when the speech took place, the words Eruzione said to Team USA are simply perfect ahead of the championship game. "When you put that jersey on, it separates yourself," Eruzione said. "This is a big deal, and you're going to send a message to how far we've come in this country and the type of players that we have." The message was already sent in Montreal when these two teams met this past Saturday, a game where three fights broke out in nine seconds and Team USA eventually scored three unanswered goals for the 3-1 victory. There was also some controversy and tension leading up to those fights once the puck dropped, as Canadian fans let out boos during the U.S. national anthem, which players like Matthew Tkachuk, who fought Brandon Hagel immediately, admitted he didn't like. But when the animosity was over, it was clear that Team USA could compete with Team Canada — a group of stars playing for a country where hockey is its national sport, and they've proven why many times in the past. Eruzione, though, couldn't be more confident in saying he believes the best team in the world was right in front of him at dinner. "You are so damn good," he said. "Embrace it, enjoy it. Because this is special. I can't wait to watch you guys play because guess what? The best team in the world sitting right in front of me right now. "Go out and show it, and bring something special back. That's something you'll remember the rest of your lives." It may not be the Winter Olympics — that will be played in Italy next year — but there is a massive sense of pride that Team USA felt in Montreal, and will surely feel in Boston on Thursday night when puck drops in the TD Garden. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
