STAR-SPANGLED MEMORIES '80 MIRACLE STIRRED U.S. PATRIOTISM - LIKE TODAY.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

Mike Eruzione chooses his words carefully, so as not to sound unpatriotic. After all, for an entire generation, he is a symbol of the American spirit, one of the 20 unknown hockey players who stunned the world by beating the Soviet Union and then capturing the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

The events of Sept. 11 ushered in a new era of national pride, to an extent not seen since 1980, but Eruzione wonders why it ever went away in the first place.

``That's disappointing for me,'' Eruzione said. ``There's no reason we should have to show patriotism because of a terrorist attack or an athletic victory. We should show that level of patriotism every day of our lives.

``September 11 is something we will never forget and something we should never forget, but I think maybe we take this country for granted sometimes, and hopefully what happened will change the way people think about this country.''

Eruzione and his teammates captivated the country 22 years ago, and Friday at least 19 of the 20 players (and coach Herb Brooks) will reunite at the Los Angeles Convention Center to play a group of NHL alumni as part of the NHL FANtasy week.

Mark Pavelich's attendance remains in doubt, but regardless, the game will feature the most players together since the team went to the White House after the Olympics.

After 22 years, the names of Eruzione, who scored the game-winning goal against the Soviets, and goalkeeper Jim Craig still resonate, and the parallels of the country's reactions to the hockey team and the terrorist attacks are striking.

It's something the players acknowledge while remaining careful to not trivialize the thousands of Americans who perished in the attacks.

``Back then they had the long gas lines, you had the trouble with the Russians in Afghanistan and the hostages in Iran, and you saw President Carter on television actually looking nervous,'' Craig said. ``We were presumed to be this great world superpower and all of a sudden people just weren't sure.

``I think our success gave people a reason to be proud, and 9/11 was the same thing in a way. There was a lot of pure pride and patriotism and emotion. Unfortunately, this time it was because of a tragedy, but with us it was because of a triumph.''

That spirit of triumph carries over to today. Rob Apatoff, an Allstate executive, saw it when he walked the streets with Craig and Eruzione when the players worked on an advertising project with the company.

Craig is remembered as the wide-eyed 22-year-old who skated around the rink in Lake Placid, N.Y., in euphoria after beating the Soviets, carrying a huge American flag and trying to locate his father in the stands. The reactions the players continue to bring out in fans inspired Apatoff to bring the team together again.

``What's special is that when people come up to these guys, they don't just want to shake their hands or get an autograph, they want to share something with them,'' Apatoff said. ``They say, 'You were a part of my life,' and it's so heartfelt.

``I've seen people come up to Jim with tears in their eyes and say, 'My father passed away, and one of the best memories I have is of watching that game with him.' That's what's great about this team. What they did transcended sports.''

The life span of an American Olympic hero usually isn't long, certainly not 22 years. Names such as Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton and Mark Spitz are a part of the sporting consciousness, but they never transfixed the country.

What has made the 1980 team stick is not just the victory over the Soviets, a juggernaut team that had defeated a team of NHL all-stars, but that the Americans were a scrappy group of relative unknowns.

Or, as Eruzione put it, ``We were the kids next door, the ones you had to honk at because we were playing hockey out in the street. We were a group of kids who relished the opportunity to do something special. We never even knew people were watching.''

It took a while for the realization of their fame to set in, but their sense of accomplishment was immediate.

``The lasting memory that I have is of the awards ceremony,'' Dave Silk said. ``We were all standing on the blue line watching the flag go up and it went just a little higher than the other flags. We had our hands over our hearts and never in my life did I think I'd have a chance to live that moment.

``It was almost an out-oody experience. I still have a vivid recollection of it. It was such a different feeling, like it was all happening in slow motion. It was like I was watching it instead of living it.''

Several players, including Silk, went on to NHL careers, and the affable Craig and Eruzione parlayed their Olympic fame into careers as motivational speakers.

Eruzione patiently completed an interview last week from New York, where he and Craig participated in a hockey clinic for local children.

``Yeah, I better get going,'' he said. ``There's about 40 little kids on the ice who have absolutely no idea who we are.''

Soon enough, they will.

NHL ALL-STAR WEEK HIGHLIGHTS

TODAY

--4 to 5:30 p.m.: Heroes of Hockey Skate with the Greats.

Skate with NHL alumni, at Convention Center.

--4 to 11 p.m.: NHL All-Star FANtasy

--8 p.m.: UCLA hockey team vs. USC, at Convention Center

FRIDAY

--1 p.m. to midnight: NHL All-Star FANtasy

--2:30 to 4 p.m.: 1980 U.S. Olympic team reunion game

1980 ``Miracle on Ice'' team faces NHL alumni

--5:45 to 7 p.m.: NHL YoungStars Game

NHL stars 25 and under face off in four-on-four format.

--7 to 8:30 p.m.: NHL All-Star SuperSkills competition

NHL All-Stars showcase their skills in various events.

SATURDAY

--9 a.m. to midnight: NHL All-Star FANtasy

--Noon: 52nd NHL All-Star Game

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- 3 -- color) Above, the 1980 United States Olympic hockey team celebrates after its 4-3 upset victory over the heavily favored Soviet team as a U.S. flag waves (at top) in the partisan crowd. At left, U.S. players celebrate the victory over Finland in the gold-medal game in Lake Placid, N.Y.

(4) U.S. players, who inspired America 22 years ago, receive congratulations from the Soviet team after the semifinal victory.

Associated Press

Box:

ALL-STAR WEEK HIGHLIGHTS (see text)