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Long time Lutsen Minnesota resident and U.S.A. Miracle on Ice hockey star Mark Pavelich, 63, was found deceased on Thursday, March 4, in Eagle’s Healing Nest, a nonprofit Minnesota residential treatment center.
Mark had been ordered into treatment by the court after he violently beat his neighbor.
On August 20, 2019, Pavelich, then 61, was arrested after allegedly striking his neighbor, James T. Miller, with a metal pole. The two men had just come back from fishing when Mark accused Miller of spiking his beer.
Mark was charged with second and third-degree assault and two illegal weapons charges. When searching Mark’s house, Cook County law enforcement found several firearms, two with serial numbers that had been altered or removed.
On October 28, 2019, Cook County District Judge Michael Cuzzo found Pavelich to be mentally incompetent to stand trial, and he was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Two Duluth clinical psychologists examined Mark, and both found he suffered from a variety of mental health disorders. Said one of the clinicians, Dr. Chris Bowerman, Mark suffered from “Unspecified Neurocognitive Disorder, and from post-traumatic stress disorder and delayed expression with secondary psychotic features. At the time, Bowerman said Mark had a complete lack of insight into his mental illness and would not be successful in less restrictive alternative treatment options because he denied his mental illness, delusions, and paranoia.
Dr. Buffington also diagnosed: “Post-traumatic stress disorder” and “some cognitive disturbance,” adding that during an interview, Pavelich responded irreverently at times and “struggled to find words to express himself.
“He believes he has been poisoned, and that friends and family have damaged his property,” said Dr. Buffington.
On December 4, 2019, after weighing testimony from the two court-appointed psychologists, Sixth Judicial Judge Michael Cuzzo found Mark Pavelich to be “mentally ill and dangerous” and ordered that he be civilly committed to a secure state facility in St. Peter, Minnesota. After making good progress at St. Peter, Mark was moved to the less restricted facility in Sauk Centre.
Considered by many scouts and pro teams to be too small to play professionally, Mark’s Olympic Coach Herb Brooks made sure that when he became head coach of the New York Rangers that the Rangers would sign Mark. Pavelich played five years for the Rangers and played for a short time with the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks. He also played overseas before retiring to Cook County in 1992.
Following his hockey career, Mark moved to Cook County, where he purchased property. He became a land developer and was known for his love of hunting and fishing, and privacy.
Mark’s wife, Kara Pavelich, died in 2012 after falling from the couple’s second-story deck.
After watching his declining mental health over the last recent years, family and friends of Mark believed he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CRT as it is known, which is caused by repeated blows to the head. Mark, an undersized forward, was known to be fearless on the ice and didn’t back down when it came to violent collisions with bigger players in the corners.
Mark sold his gold medal to help his only daughter, who he had with his first wife, buy a home. Shy and unassuming, Mark loved the outdoors and disliked the limelight. He will be forever remembered as setting up U.S.A. Olympic teammate Mike Eruzione’s winning goal over the mighty Soviet Union.
Born and raised in Eveleth on the Iron Range, Mark was a high school hockey star for the Eveleth Golden Bears. He went on to play three years at the University of Minnesota Duluth, earning All-America honors, forgoing his senior year to play hockey for the 1980 U.S.A. hockey team that beat the Russian team in the “Miracle on Ice” game. The U.S. team then beat Finland to win the gold medal.
Jean Gevik, Mark’s sister, wrote on Facebook that her brother’s brain was going to be examined for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CRT) which is caused by repeated blows to the head. “Going with statistics, I have no doubt it will be riddled with disease. Mark loved the NHL and the Olympics and didn’t blame them for his problems. He was unbelievably grateful for the opportunity to play in the big league…especially in lieu of his size.”
Gevik said Mark’s friends, the NHL Alumni Association, Melony Butler, his Olympic family, a fantastic legal team and a fair-minded judge saved him from living his last days in a state psychiatric hospital. “Instead, he had the chance to play his guitar around a campfire with new friends, fish form the lake, and bask in loving care of the Eagle’s Healing Nest.”
Gervik wrote that her brother made a donation to the Eagle’s Hearing Nest and to the Ranch— Teammates for Life. “He wanted to help others who are going through this hell.”
Gevik wrote, “This is an unbearable time for my family. The news is absolutely devastating. The last flicker of Mark’s candle went out. Way too much trauma and way too much hurt. A life cut short.
“Mark actually died years ago when he lost his beloved Kara. Now they’re together again. Soulmates forever.”
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