Biography

Mike Eruzione served as the captain that led the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team to its Gold Medal victory in Lake Placid, NY. The highlight of the games for Mike was scoring the game-winning goal against the Soviet Union. That victory against the Soviets advanced the U.S. Hockey Team to the Gold Medal Game where they beat Finland to win the Gold Medal.

A native of Winthrop Massachusetts, Mike was a well-known sports talent; excelling as an All-Scholastic in baseball, football and hockey. While attending Boston University, Mike captained the hockey team his senior year and finished his college career as the third leading scorer in B.U. history. The years Mike played at B.U. his team won four Eastern Collegiate championships. Mike was voted the Best Defensive Forward in the Eastern Collegiate Conference and eventually was inducted into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike played on two U.S. National Teams and played two years with the Toledo Goaldiggers of the International Hockey League. The IHL named Mike the McKenzie Award winner as the outstanding American born player in the IHL. The following year Mike was chosen to join the 1980 Olympic team. He was honored by being elected captain by his teammates.

After the victory in Lake Placid, Mike spent several years in New York and New Jersey as a sports commentator for Madison Square Garden. In 1984 Mike joined ABC and was a broadcaster for the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. In 1992 Mike did broadcasting for CBS in Albertville, France and in Lillehammer, Norway during the 1994 Olympic Games.

The 1980 Olympic Team received many accolades after winning the Gold Medal, including being inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. In December 1999 Sports Illustrated voted the 1980 Team’s victory as the #1 Sports Moment of the Century. Mike and his teammates had the honor of lighting the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2004 Mike and the 1980 Team were featured in the Disney movie “Miracle.”

For the past several years Mike has traveled throughout the country representing major corporations as their spokesperson and/or motivational speaker. Mike is currently employed by Boston University as Director of Special Outreach. Mike resides in his hometown of Winthrop, Ma with his wife, three adult children and two grandchildren. He continues to be actively involved with fund raising events for the U.S. Olympic Committee, as well as several charitable organizations including Winthrop Charities.

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Videos

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Do You Believe in Miracles?

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Teamwork: How to Surmount Obstacles and Win

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Leadership: Opportunity & Responsibility

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Expect Success But Never Be Complacent

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Always Go for the Gold!

Motivational speaker Mike Eruzione shares how to overcome any obstacles and go for the gold. Drawing from his experiences in the 1980 Olympics, he reveals to audiences how commitment to your team in any endeavor makes you a winner.

Testimonials

Mike Eruzione speaks straight from the heart! His message on work ethic, determination, team work was inspiring to all of our teammates.
– Ned Aguilar, Vice President Marketing - Bridgestone Firestone Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC

Booksby Mike Eruzione

The Making of a Miracle: The Untold Story of the Captain of the 1980 Gold Medal–Winning U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

Blog Posts

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Learn how a heartfelt apology shared by Johnny Crowder can help you break stigma and ignite life-changing conversations about mental health and self-compassion.

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An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

Explore how former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao’s experiences in space unlock insights on leadership, innovation, and resilience for teams on Earth.

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The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Find out how event personalization, AI-driven insights, and interactive storytelling are revolutionizing keynote speeches with business futurist Greg Verdino.

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The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a shift that happens the moment someone laughs. Shoulders loosen. The room lightens. The noise of the outside world fades just...

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Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Discover Wendy Porter’s proven WPE Planning Process for crafting live, virtual, and hybrid events that foster genuine connections, boost engagement, and drive ROI.

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The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because inclusion is no longer a box to check; it’s a culture to create. From boardrooms to classrooms, arenas to virtual...

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Blog Posts

 

How a Simple Apology Can Spark Healing and Mental Health Conversations

Imagine if a single, mental health–focused apology could dismantle stigma, validate someone’s pain, and launch...

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An Astronaut’s Guide on Leadership and Innovation Lessons on Earth

In the boundless vacuum of space, leaders face challenges that dwarf anything encountered on Earth....

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The Future of Event Keynotes: Personalization, AI, and Interactive Storytelling

Imagine a keynote at your next event that feels designed just for your audience—where every...

Read More

The Power of Play: Why Entertainment Is Essential for Engagement

“Entertainment is the emotional glue that connects people to ideas.”—Robert McKee, storytelling expert There’s a...

Read More

Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections

Imagine stepping into an event where every detail is designed to foster genuine human connection—from...

Read More

The Best Diversity and Inclusion Speakers

Why are diversity and inclusion speakers some of the most transformative voices on stage? Because...

Read More