On the 77th episode of “Great Dane Nation,” Morten is joined by Olympic Gold Medalist and Boston University legend Mike Eruzione to reflect on “The Miracle on Ice” and much more.
• The state of USA Hockey after not medaling in Beijing, and why Mike is bullish on the future of the program despite this year’s disappointing result
• Why Mike believes hockey should be moved to the Summer Olympics; why he thought NHL owners made the right move by not sending the pros to Beijing, even though the players wanted to go
• Why he feels like USA Hockey is right there with Team Canada, in that they should be a threat to medal in any international tournament moving forward
• Why he feels Auston Matthews is the best American hockey player in today’s game, and why Charlie McAvoy needs to be mentioned in this conversation as well
• His blue-collar upbringing in Winthrop, MA, and how that molded him into the success story he is today
• Why he actively avoids talking with his grandkids about who he is and what he’s accomplished
• The crazy story that led Mike to playing college hockey at Boston University
• The process of being selected to Team USA ahead of the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid
• Why he and his teammates were able to be so relaxed heading into their game against the Soviets, despite being enormous underdogs
• The untold story of Herb Brooks in the day directly following “The Miracle on Ice"
• His thoughts on the movie “Miracle” about his team’s run to gold
• Why he opted for a career in broadcasting and motivational speaking over pursuing something in the NHL
• The state of today’s game, and why he thinks goaltenders in hockey are the position in sports that has changed the most over time; why he wants the NHL to make rinks wider
• Thoughts on fellow Massachusetts native and BU Terrier Jack Eichel, and why he thinks a change of scenery is exactly what the kid needs to take the next step in his career
• Why he thinks it’s time to move the Arizona Coyotes to a city like Quebec City
• Why he wishes Connor McDavid played in a larger market
• Why Mike thinks Patrice Bergeron is Boston’s best kept secret, and where he sees the Bruins heading this season
• How happy he was to see BU win the 2022 Beanpot, and why BU’s head coach Albie O'Connell needed that trophy to help continue proving he deserves his job
• Who Mike thinks is the greatest player in BU Hockey history
• This week’s edition of “The Name Game,” featuring Herb Brooks, Jack Parker, Jim Craig, Dave Silk, Doc Emrick, Jack O’Callahan and Al Michaels