Member of 'Miracle' 1980 U.S. Hockey Team Forced to Sell Gold Medal

By Gayle Fee & Laura Raposa

BOSTON HERALD

A gold medal from the 1980 Winter Olympics “Miracle On Ice” team is going on the block complete with an emotional letter from the hockey player who was forced to sell it when he fell on hard times.

Mark Wells, a star forward in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association when he helped the amateur U.S. Men’s Hockey Team upset the Soviets, then considered the best in the world, sold the medal a few years ago after becoming bed-ridden with a rare genetic disease of his spinal cord.

“The gold medal symbolizes my personal accomplishments and our team’s accomplishments being reached,” wrote Wells. “As one of only 20 players to receive this gold medal, it has held a special place in my heart since February of 1980.

“When I decided recently to offer it out . . . I also decided until the day I give it up, it will be worn,” Wells said. “Therefore, I have slept with this medal for the past two weeks now in my home . . . I hope you will cherish this medal as I have.”

Wells did not return the Track’s calls. His medal - the only one from the Miracle team to ever hit the resale market - is expected to go for more than $100,000 according to Phil Castinetti of SportsWorld in Saugus who is handling the sale.

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