Mark Wells

Last updated
Mark Wells
Born (1957-09-18) September 18, 1957 (age 66)
St. Clair Shores, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Flint Generals
New Haven Nighthawks
Fort Wayne Komets
Oklahoma City Stars
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL Draft 176th overall, 1977
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 1980–1982
Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Men's Ice hockey
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1980 Lake Placid Team

Mark Ronald Wells (born September 18, 1957) is an American former professional ice hockey forward who is best known for being a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Contents

Amateur career

Mark Wells graduated from Lake Shore High School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan in 1975. [1] Wells then attended Bowling Green State University from 1975 to 1979 where he was a star forward with the Falcons in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Despite his abilities as a player, Wells did not receive a scholarship offer to play hockey until after his first season with the team. Following the completion of his college career, Wells, along with Falcons teammate Ken Morrow, was selected to play on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey team that went on to win the gold medal at Lake Placid.

Professional career

The jersey that Mark Wells wore during the Miracle on Ice Mark Wells Jersey.jpg
The jersey that Mark Wells wore during the Miracle on Ice

Wells was selected 176th overall in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He joined Montreal's top farm team the Nova Scotia Voyageurs after the Olympics but was unable to secure a spot on the Canadiens roster. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings after the 1980 season, however refused the assignment and was released from his contract. [2] Wells then signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers but spent the next two seasons shifting around the minor leagues playing for the New Haven Nighthawks, Flint Generals, Fort Wayne Komets and Oklahoma City Stars. Wells finally retired in 1982 without playing a single game in the NHL.

Post-playing career

Following his retirement from hockey, Wells worked as a restaurant manager in Rochester Hills, Michigan, but sustained a fractured vertebra while unloading crates. Following eleven hours of surgery, Wells was informed by the doctor that he had a rare degenerative spinal disease. The illness, which affects the disks in the spinal column, forced Wells to retire from work and has required multiple surgeries, leaving him bed-ridden for extended periods and clinically depressed. [2] Wells did, however, manage to suit up for the reunion game with his 'Miracle on Ice' teammates prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City—against doctor's orders, playing in one shift and recording a shot on goal. [3]

In 2010, financially struggling from medical bills and in need of finances for further surgery, Wells reluctantly sold his gold medal medallion to a private collector for $40,000. The medal was later auctioned off by the buyer for $310,700. [4] Having kept the medal on his nightstand for over twenty years, Wells expressed in a 2010 Daily News article how difficult a decision it had been to sell the medal: "It killed me to sell the medal. Killed me. But my life was crumbling. I was going to lose my home. I needed to sell it to have surgery and to live. I had no choice." [2]

Wells is now attending civic events and has spoken at several special venues around his hometown and beyond, including St Clair Shores Lions Club fundraiser, SCS Tree Lighting Ceremony in Dec 2014 and seminar at the Arsenal of Democracy. Additionally, he has made appearances at state hockey tournaments and various collectors shows around the country.

Mark Wells currently resides in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Awards and achievements

AwardYear
All-CCHA First Team 1976–77 [5]
All-CCHA First Team 1978–79 [5]

Wells is featured in a 1981 TV movie about the 1980 U.S. hockey team called Miracle on Ice . Jeff Miller, a retired CA State Assemblyman played Mark Wells in the 1981 movie and Wells himself appeared in archival footage of the gold medal ceremony used in the movie.

In the 2004 Disney film Miracle , he is portrayed by Joe Hemsworth.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

   Regular season   Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1974–75 Detroit Jr. Red Wings SOJHL ——————————
1975–76 Bowling Green Falcons CCHA 3217274410—————
1976–77 Bowling Green FalconsCCHA3923365920—————
1977–78 Bowling Green FalconsCCHA3811344533—————
1978–79 Bowling Green FalconsCCHA4526578330—————
1979–80 United States Intl2276132—————
1979–80 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 91010—————
1979–80 Flint Generals IHL 199132219—————
1980–81 New Haven Nighthawks AHL6714294322—————
1981–82 Fort Wayne Komets IHL19310138—————
1981–82 Oklahoma City Stars CHL 141126—————
1981–82Flint GeneralsIHL60116—————
AHL totals7615294422—————
IHL totals4412243633—————

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1980 United States OG 72130

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References

  1. 1 2 Mark Wells: ‘I still can’t believe it’
  2. 1 2 3 Mark Wells' story goes from 'Miracle' to misery after helping United States beat Soviets in 1980
  3. ↑ "HOCKEY; A 1980 Olympian Is Dreaming of His Miracle on Ice (Published 2002)". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 2018-10-28.
  4. ↑ "Mark Wells' 'Miracle on Ice' Gold Medal Sells for $310,700". AOL. November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "CCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  6. ↑ St. Clair Shores to dedicate ice rink to Mark Wells
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