For a sport that has somewhat of a regional following, the most famous collegiate hockey player ever may be Mike Eruzione.
Millions across the nation watched the Winthrop, Massachusetts native score the winning goal against the USSR in the 1980 Olympics and then, as the team captain, accept the gold medal. It's hard to forget the sight of Eruzione atop the platform with his arms raised over his head acknowledging the chants of "U-S-A, U-S-A" from the partisan crowd as the gold medal dangled from his neck.
Eruzione's feats in the 1980 Olympics climaxed a brilliant career with Boston University's hockey team. One of the top scorers for the Terriers all four years, Eruzione helped Boston University to four straight ECAC titles. A co-captain his senior year, Eruzione never missed a game in his four years, playing in 127 games.
Named to the ECAC second team All-Decade team in 1979, Eruzione was voted the best Defensive Forward four straight years by the New England Hockey Writers. The MVP of the 1977 ECAC Holiday festival, he was an All-East selection in 1975 and 1976, and a second team All-East pick in 1977. His senior year, Eruzione received the Bennett McInnis Memorial Award for displaying "the spirit that best typifies a Boston University hockey player."
The leading goal scorer on the team his freshman and sophomore years, Eruzione earned 208 career points with 92 goals and 116 assists.
In 1981, the New England Hockey Coached and Writers selected Eruzione for the Schaeffer Pen Award for his outstanding contribution to hockey.
