Mark Pavelich will always be remembered for his feats on the ice, as his assist helped get the 1980 hockey team past the Soviets at the Winter Olympics.

But the Eveleth native wanted to help others who were struggling with their mental health.

And even though he died by suicide in 2021, his legacy lives on at The Ranch, Teammates for Life. It’s a facility in Sauk Centre that helps athletes and veterans.

His sister, Jean, helped get this open. “There’s a lot of resources on campus. Counseling, and AA meetings. A lot of times, mental illness and addiction go hand in hand. There’s all kinds of support and camaraderie. I couldn’t be more thrilled,” she told us.

Pavelich’s childhood friend, Ronn Tomassoni, told us about some of the impact they see. “Recently, parents of an ex-college hockey player who had been at The Ranch for three months, let us know that he was doing really well. He and his wife are expecting a baby girl. The parents had tried so many things before,” Tomassoni said.

A fundraiser for The Ranch is coming up on Sunday. It’s called the Gold Medal Meet and Greet, and there’s also a golf scramble the next day.

Some of Pavelich’s teammates from the 1980 group that won gold at Lake Placid will be sharing stories at the meet and greet. Tickets are still available.

You can also bid on the silent auction right now.

For more info on the event: http://fundraiser.support/TheRanch

For more about The Ranch: https://theranchteammatesforlife.org/