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Unblinded with Sean Callagy
Mike Eruzione: The Miracle on Ice & Team USA Winning Olympic Gold
00:18:34
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- [00:04]
A
In a time of great divide, few people can truly be called unanimously an American hero.
- [00:15]
B
Imagine this. It's 1980. The Cold War is frozen solid. The world is divided by ideology, fear and nuclear tension. On one side stands the Soviet machine. Seasoned, professional, unstoppable. On the other side, a group of American college kids. No NHL contracts, no guarantees. Just the least and one captain. Mike Ruzioni wasn't supposed to change history. He wasn't drafted into hockey royalty. He wasn't the biggest, the fastest, or the most typed. But leadership doesn't announce itself with height. It reveals itself as in moments. And in a moment that felt larger than sport, larger than politics, larger even than the game itself, he did something that still echoes 46 years later. With one goal, one swing of destiny. He didn't just score against the Soviets, he ignited a country. But here's what makes it even more extraordinary. The golden end. In 1980, it became a standard. It became the blueprint of to what American Olympic hockey could be. Because just last week, 46 years later, when the United States once again stood across from Canada with Olympic gold on the line, when a new generation carried the crest, when overtime tension filled the world and America won gold again, that moment in Milan didn't start there. It traced its lineage back to Lake Placid. Back to a captain who showed the world that belief, the defeat and inevitability. Back to Mike Ruzioni. Every American player who laced up for that gold medal game was skating in a reality that did not exist before 1980. Before you, before that goal. That's legacy. That miracle wasn't just the win. That miracle was leadership under impossible pressure. The miracle was composure when the world expected class. The miracle was a young captain who carried not just a team, but a nation choked and delivered. And 46 years later, another generation proved that what you built was not a moment, it was a foundation. But today, we don't just welcome an ointed gold medalist. We welcome the man whose leadership created a ripple powerful enough to reach across nearly half a century. The standard bearer, the original captain. The living proof that miracles don't exist. They multiply. Ladies and gentlemen, the heart of the American ice. Mike Eruzian.
- [02:46]
A
46 years later, no gold medal since 1980. Who is going to speak to the men's team before they take the ice against Canada, the most decorated gold medal winning team in U.S. men's Olympic hockey history? And who's going to speak to the women's team before they take the ice, seeking gold? And of course, both the United States men's Olympic hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and the women's Olympic hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan both win gold medals over Canada, both in overtime, both by a score of 2 to 1. Mr. Mike Aruzioni. Mike, I'd love to just kick this thing off with saying thank you so much for being here today and just ask you what's this been like since being in Milan? First Olympic gold medal for US Men's hockey. Yeah, please.
- [03:37]
C
It's been absolutely incredible. I told my wife I didn't play in this team. But if you saw the phone messages, emails, the request for me to speak at sales meetings, I mean, I think I probably in the last four days had 15 to 20 requests for sales meetings. It's been crazy that, you know, and I didn't know we did. I was surprised by it all. But, you know, it was. Was a great moment, you know, hockey wise. It was a great moment for men and women's hockey and all these, you know, like I said, corporations I get. I think I got a span in at one, at one point in the next few weeks, that of the seven days of the week, four of them, I'm going to be flying from Vegas to Dallas to. To Scottsdale and then to Orlando. So, you know, it's, it's. It's been. It's been incredible.
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A
Well, congratulations.
- [04:34]
C
I don't hear you anymore. Oh, thanks. Okay, I got you again.
- [04:37]
A
Yeah. And so, Mike, what?
- [04:38]
C
I. Yeah, you know, I didn't expect. We know. I didn't expect any of this. We, you know, we were rooting for the team. I had, like I said, I had nothing to do with what they did. Although I did get a chance to speak to the men's team before the game and the night before, and then I could speak to the women's team the night before their game. So it was nice, you know, that they, they talked to me and I had a chance to talk to them. But when, you know, the games ended and we won and I got on the plane and flew home, and then my phone just blew up. I think I had. I think I had 100 or something text messages from people all across the country. And then all of a sudden, the other request came in to, you know, speak at sales meetings. So I don't know. We'll see. We'll see how long it lasts.
- [05:22]
A
Well, here's what I'd say. So, again, this is Sean Callagy, and Michael Ruzioni was the first guest on our unblinded podcast, which has now moved to number one on Apple business podcasts. And we've had incredible people on there. Mike Tyson, Magic Johnson, Tom Brady, and others. But I'll say this, Mike, I think it's exactly what should be happening. Issues should be this much in demand. But I think regardless of what this incredible team did, I think. I think you should be in that level of demand, regardless of the fact that we just won this gold medal. Because what you did is heroic. You are an American hero. Mike Ruzioni is. And think of this, Mike. And for everybody who's watching this conversation we're having later, who else could you truly label that's Alive today in 2026 as an American hero? All these incredible athletes we talk about. Some people root for them, some people root against them. But in America, Mike's the face of the miracle on ice, the greatest sports upset in history, and he's an American hero, like. And he. And you deflect Mike a lot. You're like, ah, I'm just a lunch pail guy. True. Right. But really think about it. Who else is there in this divided country to stand in such a unifying force? And when we last met, Mike, you said, hey, you know what? I really think that this country could use a miracle now. And maybe what happened in Milan wasn't a miracle, but what if it could be a unifying moment? And I think a lot of the outreach for you is because you're the face of unification of America. Like, what do you think of that when I say that? Please.
- [06:57]
C
Well, it's obviously very, very nice of you to say that, and I appreciate that. And look, John, you know, I've said this, and I said this throughout the Olympic Games, other than being a police officer, a firefighter, or somebody in the military who protects and serves our country, there's no greater feeling than putting a USA jersey on. And I think when we see our athletes, because they're not competing for Boston or Chicago or la, you're competing for your country, you're not playing for a Super bowl or a Stanley cup or a World Series, you're playing for an opportunity to win an Olympic gold medal. And I think our team did it in 1980 and brought great joy to a country at a time when we were looking for something to feel good about. And I think our Olympic athletes that were in Milan, our men's team, our women's team, the other Olympians who won medals, the pride that they showed, the pride that they displayed, just proves why we Live in the greatest country in the world. And I'm fortunate to be a part of a moment that touched the lives of so many people. But so are the rest of my teammates. And I guess because I've been a little more visible because of, I think, being a captain and for the last 40 years, still traveling around the country doing different things like this, I'm probably the faith of our team, but I never look at it that way. I just looked at it as I was given an opportunity to play in the Olympic Games, and look what it turned out to be. Amen to that.
- [08:18]
A
And for anybody who hasn't seen the Netflix documentary, you want to talk about serendipity, synergy. So right before the Olympics, Mike Aruzione and the Miracle, nice teammates. And Mike is a teammate of teammates. This brother wants unification. He always amplifies and edifies the entire Miracle Ice Team. Herb Brooks, all of it. They had this incredible documentary. They're all honored so beautifully. And it, Mike does such an incredible job. If you haven't seen it, you have to see it. And then right after this, us wins the gold medal. Brother. Like, how easy is this?
- [08:53]
C
Yeah, the, the, the, the Netflix special was absolutely spectacular. You know, when I watched it, you know, and Sean, you know, you've been around a lot of people, you know, they interview you when you never know how it's going to end up, right? They, they talk to you for an hour or two hours or two days or whatever, and then they're going to put it in a can and they're going to decide what they show and what they don't show and going to put it together. And we didn't know how it was going to end up, but when we saw it, actually I had, I think about 50, 50 to 60 people at a little nine hole golf course where I'm a member at in my hometown. And the people were all my cousins who grew up in the house I grew up in. And we all sat and watched it. And there were some stories in there that I didn't know about. I mean, Kenny Morrow talking about his dad and what his dad meant to him, and just the guys telling their story. I thought Netflix did a sensational job of showing not only what our team did, but even the political aspect of what was going on in our country. And they brought it together that people at Netflix have told me it might have been the best one they've ever done. And Netflix has done a lot of great specials.
- [09:58]
A
Tears come to my eyes Heart full I only have a Few minutes left. You're so in demand right now, Mike. Um, everybody go check out that Netflix documentary. If you don't cry during it, then I think you need to get a little bit of a checkup from the, the heart. You know, the heart founded. But Mike, I, I, if I know you have a charity, a foundation that you help kids with. Is that true, Mike?
- [10:24]
C
Yeah. I started foundation. It, it's funny. I did who Wants to Be a Millionaire a long time ago, and I got $150,000 on the show, and I started a chat. I decided to start a charity, and it's called Winthrop Charities. I kind of named it after my mother and father. And it created, and you do more than anybody with charitable organization. So it was fun to do it, fun to play Santa Claus. It's fun to, at Christmas time, buy gifts for kids who can't afford them. It's fun at Thanksgiving to buy meals and turkeys for families who can't afford it. You know, we probably, since I started the charity, you know, haven't raised that ridiculous amount of money. My wife and I were talking yesterday because I just did something in a donation back to my hometown, but we probably raised around 350 to $400,000 over the years. And quite a few years ago, I sold all, almost all my memorabilia. I have my skates left, my stick from the Finland game, and actually my gold medal, which I in the process of probably selling at some point. But I got like $1.6 million for all my stuff. And I endowed a scholarship in my mother and father's name at Boston University. I put the rest of the money, some of the money, into my charitable foundation. And then my three kids bought houses with the, with the money that was left over. And now that I have the metal to fill and other items that I'm in the process of deciding when I'm going to sell. I can take that money and endow some futures for my grandkids. I have seven grandkids and an eight. A little girl coming shortly. So that's all part of a charitable organization. And, you know, it's fun to help. It's fun to, you know, give back. And, you know, like I said, it's fun to play Santa Claus. And, you know, these are things that my parents taught me is to give back, and never imagined I could give back when I've been able to, but that's pretty special.
- [12:25]
A
Well, Mike, you have given to this country so much, and if you permit me, I'd love to do a small thing from My Kalagi Christian foundation, relative to the impact you create and to donate $50,000 to your wind throw, part of a foundation. And I'd love to have that taken care of immediately. So I just want you to know that that's the gratitude for everything you've done for our country to inspire me and to be the first guest ever on the unblinded Apple Business podcast that, you know, we've been number one and number two at bouncing back and forth. And you kick that thing off so powerfully, and we're so grateful, Mike. So if you permit me to do that, I'll make sure that remedy.
- [13:05]
C
Yeah, that's. That's more than charity was on. And I know I had the pleasure, you know, when we were together, to meet and chat and meet all the people that you are involved with. And, you know, I think the things that you do and the people that you represent and the people that support you is a pretty special bond of people as well. And it's nice when you can incorporate yourself or consider yourself part of the family in some ways. And, you know, clearly that's a very generous donation. And thank you.
- [13:33]
A
No, thank you, Mike. And if I could ask this, you know, as we round the bend home, when you were speaking to the team, if you don't mind, what did you share with the men's team, the women's team, before the game?
- [13:48]
C
Well, I told both teams, and I believe that the women's team was the best women's team we ever put on the ice. And our men's team was the best men's team we ever put on the ice. And I just told the ladies, the thing I talked to the ladies about was they had played Canada six times already during the year and pretty well dominated them. And I just try to tell them that those games are over, and those games don't mean a damn thing now you're playing for the Olympic gold medal. This is the game that means something. It doesn't mean anything prior to this, the Games that you won. So I kind of stressed that point to them, of letting them realize that what happened in the past is over. This is the game that counts. And don't walk off that ice, skate off that ice wondering what could have been. And then the men, the thing I told the men was, it's time to move on with us. 1980 was 1980. What we did is what we did. What you do is what you do. And, you know, I need, you know, we need this country, young little hockey players, young men and women Young boys to look at your team and you are the heroes. You're the ones that will be the idols and not the 1980 team. It ended, it is over. It's not going to change. What we did in 1980 is not going to change anything. This is your opportunity to go out there and show the world where the best hockey players in the world come from. And this is your kind to do that and show that. So it was basically kind of things like that don't take a backseat to anybody. You are the best and just to be positive to the team. But the big thing with the stress, what we did is what we did. And this is their time for them to enjoy the moment. And my grandkids now know who Jack Eichel is, who Jack Kelly, Jack Hughes is, who Charlie McAvoy is. And they don't need to know who Michael Ruzioni is, is anymore. These are the guys that are carrying the torch.
- [15:34]
A
Amazing. And I love the fact, being a Jersey guy myself, that we had a New Jersey Devil scoring that game winning goal. That was special too, right?
- [15:42]
C
But Mike, yeah, so happy for him and showing he's a class act as the whole family, you know, the other two brothers who play in the National Hockey League, the mom, you know, was involved with our women's team. She was, I think, director of player personnel for the women's team. I don't know if people knew that. And you know, they're a hockey family. And it was D.J. score the goal. And the way he did it, you know, with no teeth and his head, it was pretty ironic for a hockey player to score the goal with no teeth. I love that, Mike.
- [16:14]
A
Thank you. And of course, Mike Ruzzioni, not only the captain, the miracle on ice, but a person delivering message, carrying through the energy of these gold medals for the men's, men's Olympic team hockey team and the women's Olympic hockey Mike. And final. Final. Anyone who ever wants to have somebody speak who is a true demonstration of miraculous leadership and teamwork. Mike Ruzioni did not go to the NHL after his career. He was not the most hyped, he was not the biggest, he was not the strongest. He was none of those things, except he was the leader and the person that scored the game winning goal against the Soviets 46 years ago. And to this minute, this day, he embodies, in my humble opin, the opinion of some others, the greatest example of sports leadership that has ever occurred and it just happened to be for our country. So, Mr. Michael Ruzioni, we are so grateful to you and for you and anything else you'd like to share in final. Final today, Mike. And we thank you so much for your time today.
- [17:18]
C
No, just thank you for sending the. Continue to send the message that you do about believing, working hard, being a good person. You know, I'm a believer in that. You know, just because you won an Olympic gold medal doesn't mean you're a good person. It's more important to be a good person, be a good neighbor, be a good friend. Have those qualities, because those are far more important than sports. It's important in life. And I think what you do, those are the messages that you send, and those are the messages that I tell people all the time about being a good friend, being a good person, being a good American. You know, we live in the greatest country in the world, and let's take advantage of the opportunities we have.
- [17:57]
A
Amen, brother. Mike, we wish all the blessings. If anybody has the privilege of having Mike Aruzioni come to their company to speak and be in a position of leadership, this is the number one person, in my opinion, in the world that you want to come speak to your people. It's Mike Ruzioni. Nothing could more incredibly embody possibility than Mr. Ruzzioni. What the Miracle on Ice team did, led by him, Herb Brooks, and so many other extraordinary American heroes. Mike, have a blessed day, and we thank you.
- [18:23]
C
So, John, thank you for reaching out and hope we get the chance to see each other again down the road somewhere. We will.
- [18:30]
A
Thanks, Mike. Thank you so much.
- [18:32]
C
All right. Take care.
- [18:33]
A
Take care.