Miracle on Ice Memorabilia Going to Auction, Including 1980 Team USA Hockey Gold Medal and Mike Eruzione Jerseys

Some pieces of U.S. athletic (and diplomatic) history are going to auction next month. Several items from the 1980 Olympic Gold Medal U.S. Men's Hockey team will be available in New York on Feb. 23, the day after the 33rd anniversary of the victory over the U.S.S.R. in the semifinals, CBS Sports reports.

"Miracle on Ice" Team Captain Mike Eruzione has contributed two jerseys from the historic run: his stick and other memorabilia. Teammate Steve Christoff's Olympic gold medal will also go to the highest bidder.

The white Team USA jersey is expected to sell for at least $1 million, which would be within $200,000 of the highest-auctioned hockey item ever, a much lesser known jersey from a 1972 U.S. victory over Russia in the Summit Series.

Christoff's medal is believed to be worth at least $400,000. The value of each item from the "Miracle on Ice" team may go for more money than expected if non-sports collectors get involved. Because of the precarious situation between communist Russia and the United States at the time of the game, history buffs across the country may become interested.

Eruzione has about another quarter million of expected income from a few other items in the auction, including his blue jersey from the Gold Medal Game, his stick and the equipment he was wearing during the medal ceremony.

The United States lost earlier that winter to the Soviets, making the U.S. victory even more improbable. The Russian team was tops in the world, boasting an entire team of professional players that was touted as the #1 team across the board. America had a team of amateurs that overcame the previous defeat in the 1980 games in Lake Placid, N.Y., beating Russia 4-3. Two days later, the Americans bested Finland for the gold medal.

Olympians in recent years -- especially in the U.S. -- frequently receive endorsement deals for their accolades, though those offers were few and far in between in Eruzione's days as a national hero.

Eruzione insisted his medal will not be sold on his watch. He is selling his other items to give his children and grandson "a nice nest egg."