'Miracle on Ice' star Mark Pavelich died by suicide The 63-year-old was found dead at a Sauk Centre treatment center on March 4. Author: Mark Pavelich, a member of the "Miracle on Ice" Olympic winning hockey team, died in March by suicide. The Anoka County Medical Examiner confirmed the 63-year-old's cause of death on Monday, saying he died of asphyxia in a manner consistent with suicide. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office had confirmed that Pavelich was found dead at the Eagles Healing Nest in Sauk Centre on March 4, with police called to a report of a death at the facility at 8:35 a.m.