Miracle on Ice player jailed for assault while family suspects CTE

A member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team remains incarcerated in a Minnesota jail, accused of beating a neighbor in an alleged attack that his sister allegedly linked to a possible chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Mark Pavelich, 61, faces charges of second- and third-degree aggression, possession of an illegal shotgun and a pistol with a missing serial number after attacking his neighbor with a metal pole of 3 to 4 feet. He remains detained instead of 50,000 in Cook County Jail, in northern Minnesota, and a hearing to establish his mental fitness was ordered by District Court Judge Michael Cuzzo at the same time. an audience on Monday.

"Mark is the sweetest and kindest person you've ever known," Pavelich's sister, Jean Gevik, told the Star Tribune. "It's a totally different guy."

She and her family believe that "all her concussions and blows in the NHL" are at the root of ETC, a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and repeated blows to the head, especially among former NFL and NHL players. Erratic behavior, lack of impulse control, memory loss and depression are some of the symptoms. Pavelich spent seven seasons in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars and the San Jose Sharks.

Pavelich, a real estate developer on the north shore of Lake Superior, reportedly attacked his 63-year-old unidentified neighbor at Pavelich's home in Lutsen, Minnesota. Both men fished, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Star Tribune, and the attack was allegedly caused by Pavelich's belief that his beer had been "spiked". The victim was hospitalized with two cracked ribs, a bruised kidney, a vertebral fracture and possible internal bleeding. He also had bruises on his arms and legs and a big mark on his back.

Pavelich and the US Olympic team made history with a superb 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union in the semi-finals and Pavelich contributed to Mike Eruzione's victory. The United States then beat Finland in the gold medal match at Lake Placid. Minnesota-born Pavelich has played 355 games in the NHL and has virtually disappeared in retirement. Seven years ago, Pavelich's wife, Kara, died of a balcony on the second floor of their home at the Lutsen home.

In recent years, Gevik said his brother had "anger issues," but added, "He has not hurt anyone, not even in the NHL. Even when he was beaten, he never avenged himself. She told the Star Tribune that she had consulted an expert working with former NFL players on the changes observed.

"All the research is on ETC," she said. "It should not be a surprise here."