In high school, Mike Ramsey was heavily recruited as a hockey player, but he also played a pretty fair game of tennis. He was third in the Minnesota state championships in tennis, and seventh in the Midwest 16-and-under tournament. But his size, 6-3 (1.90) and 190 lbs. (86 kg.), made him a natural defenseman and he accepted a hockey scholarship to the University of Minnesota. However, after his freshman year at Minnesota, he joined the Olympic team, and after the Olympics, he turned pro with the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. Ramsey has been one of the best pros of the 1980 Olympians and had the longest NHL career from that team. He played thru the 1996-97 season in the NHL, mostly with the Sabres, but finishing with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. He played in the NHL All-Star game four times. He has since become a assistant coach in the NHL.
United States