NEW YORK -- More than a generation after the historic "Miracle On Ice" game in the 1980 Winter Olympics, 58-year-old Mike Eruzione is parting with his iconic No. 21 USA jersey, hockey stick and other Olympic paraphernalia.

Eruzione's white jersey alone is expected to fetch more than $1 million, but some sports memorabilia experts think it could go considerably higher. Eruzione scored the sensational winning goal against the Soviet hockey team in Lake Placid, N.Y., catapulting the Americans toward the gold medal.

Mike Eruzione scored the goal that beat the Russians. Now he'll be selling the stick, jersey and other items from the "Miracle On Ice" game to benefit his family and his foundation. Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions is selling the items in New York on Feb. 23, the day after the 33rd anniversary of the historic game.

"It's history as much as it is sports," said Phil Castinetti, owner of Sportsworld in Saugus, Mass., which bills itself as New England's largest sports memorabilia store.

"It was back when the Americans were all amateurs and playing against a professional Soviet team that was supposedly unbeatable. It was the Cold War. ... The Americans were big underdogs. It was a worldwide event that was incredible," Castinetti said.

The auction record for any piece of hockey memorabilia is $1.2 million, set in 2010 for the jersey Paul Henderson wore when he scored the winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviets.

Unlike Olympians of today, Eruzione, who was captain of his team in Lake Placid, received no lucrative endorsements. But he said he's not hurting financially and is selling the prized items to help out his three adult children and grandson.

"I thought this would be a great little nest egg for them for their future with their kids," he said in a telephone interview, adding the memorabilia had languished in his USA hockey bag in the attic of his Winthrop, Mass., home, ever since that memorable day.