Miracle: defined on dictionary.com as “an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.” When somebody says the word “miracle,” most people think of Jesus or church, but when mentioned in connection with the year 1980, it has something different attached to it. In the dead of winter, in Lake Placid, New York, something that seemed like a miracle happened.On February 22, 1980, Team USA faced off against the Soviet Union team in a hockey game-a little piece of the Cold War, if you will. The team from the USSR was a powerhouse in the game for many years, regularly winning Olympic gold and World Championships, and defeating the best teams assembled by different organizations all over the world. This included a win over the same Team USA in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden, two weeks prior to their infamous showdown. Then came the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York, USA.
The Soviets were favored to win and advance to the Gold Medal Game against Finland. When the opening puck was dropped, the field house was electric. At the end of the first period, the game was tied at 2-2, and the USSR ended up switching goalies between periods, putting their star goaltender, Tretiak, on the bench to watch his backup, Vladimir Myshkin. The Soviets would score a power play goal to go up 3-2 by the second intermission. Then the third period would bring history to its roaring feet. Team USA would tie it up at the 8:39 mark of the third, and then the captain, Mike Eruzione, would net the eventual game winner, with 10 minutes to go.
The Soviets would fight and fight in the waning minutes, but were never able to score again. Team USA had done it. They defeated the undefeatable.
It was a scene unparalleled. A moment untouchable. While the celebrations were going on in the stands and on the ice, USA head coach Herb Brooks walked back to the locker room and began to cry.
A couple days before the 31st Anniversary of the game passed, the NHL, NBC, and McDonalds held Hockey Day in America. One of the feature stories during the day’s events was with American hockey great Pat LaFontaine, who spoke about the growth of hockey since the 1960 Gold Medal Team, the 1980 Miracle Team, and other memorable moments in USA hockey. In 2004, Disney released the movie “Miracle,” starring Kurt Russell as Coach Brooks, which told the story of the historic moment.
Hockey isn’t the biggest sport in the minds of Americans, and likely never will be. But when it comes to the greatest moments in sports (and even American history), the Miracle on Ice is at the top.