The Slice: Nearly 30 years later, he still speaks of miracles

With the 30th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” two weeks away, it seems like a good time to check in with Mike Eruzione.

The captain of the 1980 U.S. gold medal hockey team, a 55-year-old Massachusetts resident, answered a few questions Thursday night before a speaking/meet-and-greet gig at Northern Quest Casino.

Q: Do people still want to tell you where they were when you beat the Russians?

A: Absolutely. I hear it all the time. People say, “Mike, you got a second? Let me tell you where I was when you won.” And it’s great because it’s a positive thing (unlike many of the other milestone events we remember).

Q: I’ve long suspected that some who don’t know hockey still don’t grasp just how mind-blowing an upset that Olympic semifinal was. How can you tell if somebody gets it?

A: You know what, it’s not that important to me that they get it. What’s important to me is that they enjoyed it. It was incredible to different people for different reasons.

Q: After being asked to recall that game thousands of times, do you still have memories that aren’t now just mixed up in a blur of interviews, replays and HBO specials?

A: Yes. It’s part of me. It’s an extension of me.

Q: What did you think of the 2004 Kurt Russell movie “Miracle”?

A: Very good. A couple of things I would’ve changed.

Q: Ever been to Spokane before?

A: No. First time. Mark Rypien is a friend and he has invited me to come but I hadn’t been able to make it.

Family Phrases Department: “My granddaughter Ashley always referred to her great grandpa Al as Grandpa Owl,” wrote Vicki Nolting.

Who? Anyway, the name stuck.

Today’s Slice question: How many people referred to the classic “Seinfeld” chips-and-dip scene Sunday?