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Mark Wells

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For the English footballer, see Mark Wells (footballer). For the Australian musician and record producer, see Mark Wells (musician).
Mark Wells
Born (1957-09-18)September 18, 1957[1]
St. Clair Shores, Michigan, U.S.
Died May 14, 2024(2024-05-14) (aged 66)
Escanaba, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Flint Generals
New Haven Nighthawks
Fort Wayne Komets
Oklahoma City Stars
National team  United States
NHL draft 176th overall, 1977
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 1980–1982
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Ice hockey
Gold medal – first place 1980 Lake Placid Team

Mark Ronald Wells (September 18, 1957 – May 14, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey forward who was best known for being a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Amateur career

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Mark Wells graduated from Lake Shore High School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, in 1975.[2] Wells then attended Bowling Green State University from 1975 to 1979 where he was a star forward with the Falcons in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Despite his abilities as a player, Wells did not receive a scholarship offer to play hockey until after his first season with the team.

Following the completion of his college career, Wells, along with Falcons teammate Ken Morrow, was selected to play on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey team that went on to win the gold medal at Lake Placid. Wells played centre on a line with Phil Verchota and Eric Strobel.[3]

Professional career

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The jersey that Mark Wells wore during the Miracle on Ice

Wells was selected 176th overall in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He joined Montreal's top farm team the Nova Scotia Voyageurs after the Olympics but was unable to secure a spot on the Canadiens roster. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings after the 1980 season, however refused the assignment and was released from his contract.[4]

Wells then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers but spent the next two seasons shifting around the minor leagues playing for the New Haven Nighthawks, Flint Generals, Fort Wayne Komets, and Oklahoma City Stars. Wells finally retired in 1982 without playing a single game in the NHL.

Post-playing career

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Following his retirement from hockey, Wells worked as a restaurant manager in Rochester Hills, Michigan, but sustained a fractured vertebra while unloading crates. Following eleven hours of surgery, Wells was informed by the doctor that he had a rare degenerative spinal disease. The illness, which affects the disks in the spinal column, forced Wells to retire from work and required multiple surgeries, leaving him bed-ridden for extended periods and clinically depressed.[4] Wells did, however, manage to suit up for the reunion game with his 'Miracle on Ice' teammates before the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City—against doctor's orders, playing in one shift and recording a shot on goal.[5]

In 2010, financially struggling from medical bills and in need of finances for further surgery, Wells reluctantly sold his gold medal medallion to a private collector for $40,000. The medal was later auctioned off by the buyer for $310,700.[6][7] Having kept the medal on his nightstand for over twenty years, Wells expressed in a 2010 Daily News article how difficult a decision it had been to sell the medal: "It killed me to sell the medal. Killed me. But my life was crumbling. I was going to lose my home. I needed to sell it to have surgery and to live. I had no choice."[4]

In later years, Wells attended civic events and spoke at several special venues around his hometown and beyond, including the St Clair Shores Lions Club fundraiser, SCS Tree Lighting Ceremony in Dec 2014, and seminar at the Arsenal of Democracy. Additionally, he made appearances at state hockey tournaments and various collectors shows around the country. He resided in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Wells died on May 14, 2024, at the age of 66.[8][9]

Awards and achievements

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Award Year
All-CCHA First Team 1976–77 [10]
All-CCHA First Team 1978–79 [10]
  • Olympic Gold Medal in Men's Ice Hockey, U.S. Men's Ice Hockey team: 1980[2]
  • St. Clair Shores, Michigan, city officials rename the St. Clair Shores Civic Arena's Olympia Room as the Mark Wells Ice Rink: 2014[11]
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Wells was featured in a 1981 TV movie about the 1980 U.S. hockey team called Miracle on Ice. Jeff Miller, a retired California State Assemblyman played Wells in the 1981 movie, and Wells himself appeared in archival footage of the gold medal ceremony used in the movie.

In the 2004 Disney film Miracle, he is portrayed by Joe Hemsworth.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1974–75 Detroit Jr. Red Wings SOJHL — — — — — — — — — —
1975–76 Bowling Green Falcons CCHA 32 17 27 44 10 — — — — —
1976–77 Bowling Green Falcons CCHA 39 23 36 59 20 — — — — —
1977–78 Bowling Green Falcons CCHA 38 11 34 45 33 — — — — —
1978–79 Bowling Green Falcons CCHA 45 26 57 83 30 — — — — —
1979–80 United States Intl 22 7 6 13 2 — — — — —
1979–80 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 9 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
1979–80 Flint Generals IHL 19 9 13 22 19 — — — — —
1980–81 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 67 14 29 43 22 — — — — —
1981–82 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 19 3 10 13 8 — — — — —
1981–82 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 14 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
1981–82 Flint Generals IHL 6 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
AHL totals 76 15 29 44 22 — — — — —
IHL totals 44 12 24 36 33 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1980 United States OG 7 2 1 3 0

References

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  1. ^ 1980 Olympics Roster
  2. ^ a b Mark Wells: ‘I still can’t believe it’
  3. ^ Peters, Chris (February 19, 2020). "Inside the Miracle on Ice: How Team USA defied the numbers to beat the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics". ESPN. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Mark Wells' story goes from 'Miracle' to misery after helping United States beat Soviets in 1980
  5. ^ "HOCKEY; A 1980 Olympian Is Dreaming of His Miracle on Ice (Published 2002)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-10-28.
  6. ^ "Mark Wells' 'Miracle on Ice' Gold Medal Sells for $310,700". AOL. November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  7. ^ OlympicTalk (14 January 2020). "Another Miracle on Ice player's Olympic gold medal being auctioned". NBC Sports.
  8. ^ "Wells dies at 67, won gold medal with 'Miracle on Ice' team in 1980 Olympics | NHL.com". www.nhl.com. 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  9. ^ Mark Ronald Wells Anderson Funeral Homes
  10. ^ a b "CCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  11. ^ St. Clair Shores to dedicate ice rink to Mark Wells
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