Miracle On Ice on February 22, 1980

On February 22, 1980, what is described by many as the proudest moment in United States sports history had taken place. It was on this day that the U.S. ice hockey team faced off against the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The U.S.S.R. was heavily favored to win this game, but it was the U.S. team that forever made their mark on history on this day at the Olympic Center.

The Soviet Union were led by head coach Viktor Tikhonov, who believed in resting his star players and studying film rather than using them when they weren't needed. It was hard to argue with the success. The Soviets had won every ice hockey gold medal since 1964 going into this game, and had they had played together many times before.

The Soviet Union dominated in group play while winning all games leading up to the medal round. Though classified as amateur players, many of them developed in a professional league while also having a 5-3-1 record against an NHL All-Star squad(which included a 6-0 win for the Challenge Cup) and beating the New York Rangers and New York Islanders in exhibition play. They had lopsided wins of 16-0 over Japan, 17-4 over the Netherlands, and 8-1 over Poland. They also handily defeated the U.S. team in exhibition play with a 10-3 win, too.

U.S. Head Coach Herb Brooks was nearly the polar opposite of Tikhonov. Brooks was often confrontational with his players and he strongly believed in hard, tough practices and berating his players to play to his expectations. Most of his players came from Boston University and Minnesota, but they had practiced together since 1979.

The U.S. did settle for a 2-2 tie against a good Sweden team before winning four straight games to qualify for the medal round. Czechoslovakia, thought by many to be the second best team behind the Soviets, was upset by the U.S. in group play too.

Sweden, after an upset of Canada in group play, advanced along with Finland to the medal round as well.

Bad blood between the two sides further escalated politically with the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan the year before. There were concerns that the Soviet Union may not show up for the Winter Games in New York. Also, then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter strongly considered boycotting the Summer Olympics in Moscow during this time in which he eventually did so. The U.S. did upset the Soviets in 1960, but the American team had an average age of 22 for their squad going against a team that was experienced and played together many times before.

The Cold War helped set the stage for what turned out to be a surprisingly competitive game. The energized crowd witnessed the U.S. making an improbable run to get to the medal round and there was a patriotic presence in the arena. Early on, it seemed the Soviets were going to make it a one-sided affair.

In the opening period, the Soviet Union jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Vladimir Krutov deflected a slap shot from Aleksei Kasatonov that got past U.S. goaltender Jim Craig. But the U.S. answered back as Buzz Schneider scored a goal to tie the game.

The Soviets then took back the lead when Sergei Makarov scored later in the opening period.

Craig improved his play as goaltender as he turned away many shots from the Soviet Union. As the opening period came to a close, the U.S. team had the puck on their end of the ice.

Forward Dave Christian fired a shot at Soviet goaltender Vladislav Tretiak which was initially saved. But Tretiak misplayed the rebound which allowed Mark Johnson to scoop it up into the goal to tie the game 2-2 with one second left in the opening period.

Tretiak, who was considered by many to be the best goaltender in the world at the time, was replaced by Vladimir Myshkin to start the second period. Tikhonov' move to replace Tretiak shocked both teams and fans, and it likely was the turning point in the game.

However in Myshkin's defense, he didn't allow a goal in the second period. The Soviet Union took back the lead on a power play goal by Aleksandr Maltsev in the second period. The Soviet Union held a 3-2 lead going into the final period.

With under 12 minutes left in regulation, the U.S. had a power play opportunity when Krutov was penalized for high-sticking. Johnson scored a goal past Myshkin with seconds remaining on that power play to tie the game 3-3.

The U.S. took the lead for the first time two shifts later when Mike Eruzione, who was left undefended in the high slot, received a pass from Mark Pavelich. Myshkin was screened by a teammate as Eruzione fired a shot past him to give the United States a 4-3 lead.

Craig continued to turn away shots by the Soviet Union as regulation time began to wind down. In the closing minute, the Soviet Union elected not to pull Myshkin from the game for an extra attacker. The Soviets kept the puck in the U.S. zone, but the U.S. cleared it past the blue line with seven seconds remaining in the game.

As the clock winded down, fans chanted "USA!" and announcer Al Michaels made the famous call:

"Eleven seconds, you've got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

Game stats:
Shots on goal: Soviet Union 39, United States 16
Power play Goals/Attempts: Soviet Union 1-for-2, United States 1-for-2
Penalties/Minutes: Soviet Union 3-for-6 minutes, United States 3-for-6 minutes
Craig: 36 saves, 3 goals allowed
Tretiak: 6 saves, 2 goals allowed in 20 minutes
Myshkin: 6 saves, 2 goals allowed in 40 minutes
Soviet Union goals: Krutov assist from Kasatonov at 9:12 in first period; Makarov assist from Vladimir Golikov at 17:34 in first period; Maltsev assist from Krutov at 2:42 in the second period
United States goals: Schneider assist from Pavelich at 14:03 in first period; Johnson assist from Christian and Dave Silk at 19:59 in first period; Johnson assist from Silk at 8:39 in third period; Eruzione assist from Pavelich and John Harrington at 10:00 in third period

The shocking upset allowed the U.S. to advance on to play for the gold medal against Finland. Overcoming a 2-1 deficit, the U.S. rallied for a 4-2 win to secure the gold medal. Because of rules at the time, this was a round-robin tournament which made it possible for any of the four teams to finish anywhere between 1st and 4th. The tie against Sweden by the U.S. in group play counted along with the medal games. After the Soviets rebounded to knock off Sweden in the silver medal game, the U.S. clinched the gold medal by beating Finland. Sweden ended up winning the bronze medal.

The Soviet players had fear of returning back to Moscow after not winning the gold medal. A better lifestyle came for anyone making the Soviet team because it was considered high placement in their country while dominating the sport. The USSR would still remain as the dominant ice hockey team in the world until the breakup in 1991 despite the loss in this game. However, many players from the country defected or ended up in the NHL.

After the breakup of the country, more Soviet players began to open up about the game against the U.S in 1980. Soviet players recognized the intensity and relentlessness of the U.S. team while also stating they deserved the hard-fought victory, too.

Some U.S. players went on to a better life after this game. Ken Morrow was part of the 1980 Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders team. Mike Ramsey played 18 years in the NHL and was a five-time All-Star. Dave Christian played 14 years in the NHL while being named an All-Star in 1991. Mark Johnson played 11 years in the league, and eventually became the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison coaching the team to national titles in 2006 and 2007.

Jim Craig only played in 30 NHL games during his career, but he's the most well-known player from this team. Craig went on to become a highly successful salesman and marketing executive, and is currently President of the Boston-based Gold Medal Strategies company. He has helped to provide inspirational and motivational strategies to over 300 companies including Coca-Cola, Merrill Lynch, Pepsi, and Walt Disney.

Even Craig Patrick, an assistant under Brooks during the 1980 Winter Games, had a successful career as a General Manager in the NHL which eventually earned him Hall of Fame honors.

Herb Brooks had a so-so career as head coach in the NHL, and would return to coach the U.S. team in 2002 in Salt Lake City as they won the silver medal. Sadly, Brooks died on August 11, 2003 in a car accident outside Forest Lake, Minnesota. The location at Lake Placid where the Miracle on Ice took place is now called Herb Brooks Arena.

A movie called Miracle on Ice aired on television in 1981 starring Karl Malden as Brooks and Steve Guttenberg as Craig.

After the death of Brooks in 2003, a movie called Miracle starring Kurt Russell as Brooks came to theaters. The "Do you believe in miracles?" line was the actual original broadcast from Michaels in the movie.

Michaels was named "Sportscaster of the Year" for 1980 for his coverage of the epic moment. Michaels has continued his very successful career, and also won an award for his coverage during the Earthquake World Series in 1989. He's now more famous for his role as announcer on Monday Night Football on ABC and his current position teaming with former NFL head coach John Madden for Sunday Night Football on NBC.

The U.S. team was named "Sportsmen of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1980. This game was voted the greatest sports moment of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated in 2000. They were also named "Athlete of the Year" by both the Associated Press and ABC Wide World of Sports. In 2004, ESPN's 25th Anniversary recognized this event as the top moment, game, and headline on their network. Furthermore in 2008, the International Hockey Federation picked this game as the top international hockey moment.

The famous "USA!" chant has continued to be used by supporters since this game in 1980. Turbulent times in the 1970s had strained national pride, but this game helped bolster it in a big way.

When I think about the greatest upsets in sports history, this one in my mind is the biggest of them all. No one game ever brought out the best in our country during the Cold War quite like this one. During a time when the United States needed a boost of morale, this team provided that. Against a team that had dominated the sport in the previous Winter Games, the U.S. would not be denied on this day on their own turf. In currently tough economic times, one can look back with a smile on a day when we as sports fans were proud of a team that restored national pride for many of us.

At the time, I was only five years old, but I love watching the highlights of this game on ESPN Classic as much as anyone. I was once asked which event in sports history I would have witnessed, and I said this one. The fever pitch, the Cold War, and crowd that wouldn't let the U.S. stay down would have been something to see.

As I leave you, I want to flashback to the actual closing moments of the game. Al Michaels and Ken Dryden have the call.

Photo shows Eruzione's game winning goal and celebration. The second photo shows the United States on the podium after winning the gold medal in 1980.

Posted in: 1980 Winter Olympics, Finland, Herb Brooks, hockey, Jim Craig, Lake Placid, National Hockey League, NHL, Soviet Union, Sweden, United States, Winter Olympics

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