As Team USA begins competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics (featuring NHL players for the first time since 2014), American hockey fans fondly recall the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. That of course was the site of the biggest team sport shocker in winter Olympics history, the famed Miracle on Ice squad of college stars upsetting the Soviet Red Army and going on to capture the gold medal in front of joyous home fans and the entire country on TV.
It's no surprise then that the Miracle on Ice team's autographs remain highly sought after even 46 years later, even though neither team captain Mike Eruzione nor goaltending hero Jim Craig managed to stick around in the NHL for much more than a cup of coffee. Sadly, two members, Mark Pavelich and Bob Suter, passed away in 2021 and 2014, respectively. Coach Herb Brooks died way back in 2003 and his autograph value greatly exceeds that of any modern era NHL coach, even Hockey Hall of Famers. Complete team autographed items with all 20 players are increasing hard to find. Items with all 20 players plus Brooks are especially rare.
Grandstand Sports in New York City conducted the first large scale memorabilia signings with the Miracle on Ice team before and after Brooks passed. Since then, many companies big and small have done signings with MOI players. Eruzione was a fixture on the celebrity golf circuit for many years, and one of the most gracious signers you could meet.
Buyers should be wary of MOI "complete" team autographed items with 20 signatures but missing Suter. In the 7 years between the passing of Suter and Pavelich, companies frequently added assistant coach Craig Patrick as signature #20, which with all due respect to Patrick, isn't quite the same. Once Pavelich passed, companies settled for having team signings with 15-18 players, with or without Patrick.
But no matter how many autographs Eruzione and teammates have signed over 46 years, the demand remains constant or continues to increase. The Miracle on Ice moment transcended hockey, the Olympics and sports itself. It was the week that 20 college kids defeated the mightiest hockey machine in the world and lifted this entire country's spirits in celebration.
AutographsForSale.com offers a variety of Miracle on Ice autographed items including a few remaining complete (all 20 players including Suter and Pavelich) team autographed framed photos. We also have Eruzione autographed Miracle on Ice cards authenticated and slabbed by BAS and other MOI items autographed by Eruzione and Jim Craig. For an inexpensive option, or if you have a chance to meet Eruzione or one of the players yourself, we offer the only LICENSED Miracle on Ice celebration 8x10 photos. For our entire Miracle on Ice autograph and memorabilia inventory, click here.
