Mike "Lefty" Curran has long been regarded as one of the greatest American goaltenders of all time. Curran achieved success at the high school, college and Olympic levels. He also starred in the World Hockey Association in the 1970s.

Curran began his illustrious career as an All-State goalie at International Falls, MN in the early 1960s, where, in addition to posting a goals against average of 0.78 in the 1961 season, (which was a Minnesota record at one time), led his Broncos to a pair of state high school hockey championships.

After playing for a season with the Green Bay Bobcats, of the USHL, Curran decided to attend the University of North Dakota. There the sturdy goaltender led the Sioux to a pair of NCAA Championship games, losing to future Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden and Cornell, in 1967, and Keith Magnusson's Denver Pioneers in 1968. The All-WCHA keeper's 2.98 G.A.A. at UND ranked third on the school's all-time list.

From there he went on to represent the United States seven times in International competition, second only to John Mayasich's then nine appearances.

Curran was named as the MVP of the 1972 silver medal winning Olympic Team, in Sapporo, Japan, as his 51-save performance against the Czechs is thought to rival any goaltending performance in Olympic history.

After the Olympics, Curran enjoyed a successful career with the Minnesota Fighting Saints, where, from 1973-77, he stood strong between the pipes. He finally retired from competition in 1977, but not before being named as the Goalie of the 1970s on the USA All-Time Team.