Miracle on Ice

Miracle on Ice
Henry Zbyszynski · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Miracle on Ice
Sport	Ice hockey
Teams	United States, Soviet Union
Date	February 22, 1980
Location	Lake Placid, New York, United States
Stadium	Olympic Arena (Lake Placid)

Miracle on Ice. The 1980 Winter Olympics ice hockey match between the United States and the Soviet Union is widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history, with the US team, composed of amateur and collegiate players, defeating the heavily favored Soviet team, which had won six of the previous seven Olympic Games gold medals. The US team was led by Herb Brooks, a former University of Minnesota player and coach, and featured players such as Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, and Mark Johnson. The game was played at the Olympic Arena (Lake Placid) in Lake Placid, New York, and was attended by Vice President Walter Mondale and New York Governor Hugh Carey.

Introduction

The Miracle on Ice was a pivotal moment in the Cold War, with the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a decades-long struggle for ideological and geopolitical supremacy. The 1980 Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York, a small town in the Adirondack Mountains, and featured a US Olympic team that was largely composed of amateur and collegiate players. The team was led by Herb Brooks, a former University of Minnesota player and coach, who had played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and had coached the University of Minnesota team to several NCAA championships. The US team also featured players such as Jim Craig, a Boston University goalie, and Mike Eruzione, a Boston University forward, who would go on to become one of the most iconic players in US Olympic hockey history.

Background

The Soviet Union national ice hockey team was one of the most dominant teams in international hockey, having won six of the previous seven Olympic Games gold medals, including the 1972 Winter Olympics and the 1976 Winter Olympics. The team was led by Viktor Tikhonov, a renowned coach who had led the Soviet Union to numerous international championships, including the IIHF World Championship and the Canada Cup. The Soviet team featured players such as Boris Mikhailov, Valeri Kharlamov, and Vladislav Tretiak, who were considered among the best players in the world. In contrast, the US Olympic team was composed of amateur and collegiate players, many of whom had never played together before, and were considered huge underdogs against the Soviet team.

The Game

The game between the United States and the Soviet Union was played on February 22, 1980, at the Olympic Arena (Lake Placid) in Lake Placid, New York. The Soviet team was heavily favored to win, but the US team, led by Herb Brooks, played a strong defensive game and managed to keep the score tied 2-2 after the first period. In the second period, the US team scored two goals, including one by Steve Christoff, a University of Minnesota forward, to take a 4-3 lead. The Soviet team tied the game in the third period, but the US team scored two more goals, including the game-winner by Mike Eruzione, to win the game 4-3. The game was attended by Vice President Walter Mondale and New York Governor Hugh Carey, and was watched by millions of people on ABC television, with play-by-play commentary by Al Michaels.

Aftermath

The United States victory over the Soviet Union was a major upset, and was widely hailed as a Cold War victory for the United States. The game was played during a time of high tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, with the Soviet Union having invaded Afghanistan just a few months earlier, and the United States having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The US team's victory was seen as a symbol of American determination and resilience, and was celebrated by President Jimmy Carter and other US leaders. The team went on to win the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics, defeating Finland 4-2 in the final game, and was welcomed back to the United States as heroes, with a ticker tape parade in New York City.

Legacy

The Miracle on Ice has become an iconic moment in US Olympic hockey history, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history. The game has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including the 2004 film Miracle, which starred Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks. The game has also been recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the NHL as one of the most significant moments in US Olympic hockey history. The US Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003, and the game has been named one of the NHL's Greatest Moments.

Team Roster

The US Olympic team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics included players such as Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Mark Johnson, Steve Christoff, and Neal Broten, all of whom played for NCAA teams such as Boston University, University of Minnesota, and University of Wisconsin–Madison. The team was led by Herb Brooks, who had played for the University of Minnesota and had coached the University of Minnesota team to several NCAA championships. Other players on the team included Ken Morrow, a Bowling Green State University defenseman, and Mark Pavelich, a University of Minnesota Duluth forward, who would go on to play in the NHL for teams such as the New York Islanders and the Minnesota North Stars. The team's victory was celebrated by NHL teams such as the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins, and was recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario. Category:Ice hockey