LAKE PLACID — Mark Wells, the last player added to the 1980 Miracle on Ice hockey team, has died at the age of 66. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Wells’ death was confirmed Saturday by his former teammates and the team’s social media pages.

“Sad day today for our 1980 Olympic team. Number 15 Mark Wells passed away yesterday,” 1980 U.S. Olympic team captain Mike Eruizone posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Great teammate obviously a great hockey player and we will miss him.”

Wells played in all seven games at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Winter Games, scoring two goals and adding one assist. He was a center on the team’s fourth line, alongside Phil Verchota and Eric Strobel.

Former New York Daily News Sports Writer Wayne Coffey described Wells as the quintessential player for that 1980 team.

“He was full of grit. He didn’t care about the odds,” Coffey said. “He wasn’t going to say ‘Oh God, these guys are the Soviets we’re never going to beat them.’ He was like, ‘Damn it, I’m Mark Wells and I may be short, you may not think that I can do anything, but I’m coming right at you.’ I think really that spirit, which Herb really embraced the under dog mentality. Mark really was the underdog’s underdog. I think ultimately that’s what got him on this team and what I’ll remember him.”

Coffey wrote the New York Times bestseller, “The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U. S. Olympic Hockey Team.”

Born on Sept. 18, 1957, Wells was born and raised in St. Claire Shores, Michigan. Despite being a hockey star in high school, Wells did not receive a collegiate scholarship offer to play for Bowling Green — the same team that featured 1980 player Ken Morrow. Wells later received a full scholarship after his first season.

He was the underdog’s underdog, Coffey said. The 5-foot-9 forward may have been small by hockey standards, but his fiercely competitive nature was what enabled him to achieve what he achieved.

“I think because of his size he always felt that he had to prove himself to people,” Coffey said. “I think there was a defiance that in some ways endeared him to (Herb) Brooks. I think it also drove Herb Brooks a little crazy.”

Prior to the Games, Brooks had asked Wells to play right wing, according to Coffey’s book. Wells declined, stating he plays center. Brooks nearly kicked him off the team right then and there.

Like many on the team, Wells later gained a massive amount of respect for what Brooks did for the team.

“I pray for that man every day,” Wells told the Lake Placid News in 2017, while pointing to a picture of Brooks.

During the 1980 Olympics, he scored one goal against Norway in a 5-1 victory and another against Romania in a 7-2 defeat — both were in the preliminary round. His lone assist was during Team USA’s 4-2 victory over West Germany. Wells played a more defensive role during the Olympics, despite being a solid goal scorer in college.

“As far as I could tell, he accepted his role, but he burned to do more,” Coffey said. “He burned to show that he could — OK, he’s not going to knock Mark Johnson off of first line center — but I really think he felt that maybe he could contribute more to the team. He wasn’t completely healthy either.”

Four months before the 1980 Olympics, Wells suffered a hairline fracture in his ankle while training with 1980 assistant coach Craig Patrick in Norway. The injury nearly kept him off the Olympic roster.

“I think that may have limited him somewhat, but he did his job and he did it well,” Coffey said. “I think he was proud of that, and he should be proud of that.”

Wells was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 13th round (No. 176) of the 1977 NHL Draft after his second season at Bowling Green State University. Despite various stints in the minor leagues, he never played a game in the NHL.

“He really was an outstanding player and I think people never really appreciated how good he was,” Coffey said. “Mark was just a good salt of the earth soul and I was so found of him and have great respect for him.”

Following his hockey career, Wells returned to Minnesota and became a restaurant manager, but was forced into an early retirement following rare spinal cord disease diagnosis that eventually rendered him bed-ridden.

“He struggled with health issues to the point of wondering if it was even worth being alive,” Coffey said. “He faced almost every obstacle you could face and he did it bravely. To me, he showed a tremendous amount of strength even just sharing his story with me as openly as he did.”

In 2010, because of his health issues, Wells sold his Olympic gold medal at auction.

“It’s a sad story because he reached this incredible pinnacle in 1980 and then so many things went wrong for him after that, mostly health-wise,” Coffey said.

In the spring of 2015, the state Olympic Regional Development Authority began hosting the annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp. Wells attended every single fantasy camp since its inception — with the exception of 2020 and 2021, when the camps were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic — but because of his health issues, he was unable to play and coach.

“We wanted to find a role for him and we thought he’d do a great job as the commissioner and kind of be the PR guy,” Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp co-director Jeff Potter said. “I know all the campers enjoyed their time with him and found him to be a real humble guy and just a nice human being.”

Potter, who has been involved with Miracle on Ice reunions held by ORDA dating back to 1990, said Wells was always a guy you could sit down and talk about what’s going on with your life.

“He’s always been a true gentlemen and a great guy,” he said. “He obviously had some health issues — probably even during his playing career. I actually just got to see him at camp this past week and spent some time with him. He seemed to be doing a lot better than he had in previous camps. I’m kind of shocked to have heard that he passed away.”

Wells was predeceased by teammates Bob Suter, who died in 2014, Mark Pavelich, who died in 2021, and head coach Herb Brooks, who died in 2004.

ORDA Communications Manager Darcy Norfolk said the organization intends to retire and raise Wells’ No. 15 jersey in the rafters inside the Olympic Center’s 1980 Herb Brooks Arena, but the process will take some time. Suter’s No. 20 and Pavelich’s No. 16 are currently hanging from the arena’s rafters.

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of Miracle on Ice team member Mark Wells,” Olympic Center General Manager Chadd Cassidy said in a statement. “Mark was extremely popular with our staff at the Olympic Center. We always looked forward to his trips back to Lake Placid. He was always friendly and endearing. He was simply a great man and will be dearly missed.”

On Monday, 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey teammate Jim Craig paid tribute to Wells on Instagram.

“Mark symbolized everything the team stood for: an indomitable winning spirit and the heart of an underdog,” he said. “Known for his unwavering dedication and grit, he inspired those around him to strive for greatness against all odds. Beyond his athletic prowess, Mark was the kindest soul, always ready with a smile and a helping hand. His warmth, generosity, and exceptional character made him a terrific person who left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. Mark Wells will be deeply missed, but his legacy of perseverance and kindness will continue to inspire us all.”