On Sunday, Feb. 22, the United States Olympic men’s hockey team defeated its Canadian counterparts, 2-1 in overtime to take home the gold medal for only the third time in Olympic history. Ironically enough, it was exactly 46 years to the day that Team USA enjoyed the thrill of its last Olympic victory before this year, of course. That squad was comprised of college athletes, who shocked the world after beating the Soviet Union — everybody’s pick to win it all — in the semifinals, before taking down Finland in the 1980 gold medal game at Lake Placid, New York.
The Marblehead High boys hockey team had the opportunity to play two games there against its Northeastern Conference rival Winthrop in early December to begin a new season. They will never forget playing on that historic sheet of ice in the Herb Brooks Arena, named after the legendary coach of that 1980 squad.
First-year Headers coach Brendan Locke was 10-years-old in 1980, but he still vividly remembers the details of that historic sports event as if it was yesterday. But he also admires the talents of today’s hockey players.
“The skill level in (hockey) right now is incredible, both at the Olympic and professional levels,” said Locke. “The playmaking by all the Olympic teams throughout those two weeks was over the top, and it was just so much fun to watch.”
These Olympics definitely brought the Marblehead coach back to his childhood days. “Watching these games was like being a 10‑year‑old kid once again, when I sat at home watching the gold medal game with my mother, father, two brothers and sister, and to have it now come full-circle 46 years later to watch this team win gold with my own family — my wife, Christine, and our two sons, Brendan and Christopher, who are both former Marblehead High School hockey players — these are definitely more memories for me that will last a lifetime,” Locke said.
Locke is thankful that he was able to share the whole Lake Placid experience with his Hockey Headers in December. “It just made it all feel so surreal, and it gave you chills just to be there. It was so inspirational that it makes you proud to be an American,” he said.
Ryan Angilly, one of Locke’s senior players, won’t forget that game-winning goal that clinched the gold. “When Jack Hughes scored the game-winner, I was in pure shock,” said Angilly. “I immediately thought about our season, and how it began in Lake Placid, where the 1980 team won gold.”
MHS co-captain E.J. Wyman, Ryan’s classmate and teammate, also won’t forget the game that got started locally early Sunday morning. “It was a surreal game to watch,” Wyman said. “It’s crazy to think that the last time Team USA won gold was in 1980 at Lake Placid, which is where we started our season this year.”
Hayden Gallo, who shared the captain’s role with Wyman this year, offered his thoughts on the win over Canada.
“It was awesome to watch Team USA win in real time,” Gallo said. “It was just a remarkable moment in hockey history, and one that I will always cherish.”
Former MHS hockey star Jake Kulevich, who led the Headers to the program’s first state championship in 2011, also chimed in on the golden moment.
Kulevich, who went on to star at Colgate University, before turning pro in the Edmonton Oilers organization, opined that the gold medal game was one of the best that he ever saw. “It was just an incredible matchup,” he said. “The whole tournament was outstanding, and it was so good for the game of hockey on both the men’s and women’s side.”
Kulevich had a personal interest in these games, because he had skated with many of the players on these different teams over the years. “I’m sure that despite the result they’re all grateful to have been a part of such a special tournament.”
Denmark captain Pat Russell was actually one of Kulevich’s teammates, when he played for the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors in California. Jake also spent time in various training camps with Canada’s Connor McDavid and Germany’s Leon Draisaitl during his time in the Oilers organization. “All of them are incredible competitors and winners,” the former Header said.
Kulevich currently works for a technology company, and is an assistant hockey coach at Dexter Southfield, a Brookline prep school. The hockey team just finished on top in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council with a 19-1-5 regular season record, and is scheduled to take on Avon Old Farms in the first round of the Elite 8 tournament, starting on March 4.
Jake’s cousin and MHS senior hockey player J.J. Downey said that seeing Team USA win gold “was just incredible,” while adding, “it showed what representing your country and playing for something bigger than yourself really means.”
