Miracle on Ice 40th Anniversary

Everyone remembers where they were when the United States Olympic Hockey Team won the gold medal forty years ago. And if you are too young to remember, we can let you in on it.

The “Miracle on Ice” was a medal-round game during the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, played between the hosting United States and the four-time defending gold medalists, the Soviet Union.

The United States’ team led by head coach Herb Brooks was comprised of mostly amateur players. With only four players with minimal minor-league experience, the United States was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history. By contrast, the Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid. The SU team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience in international play.

Both the Soviet and U.S. teams entered the final rounds unbeaten; the U.S. achieved several notable results, including a 2–2 draw against Sweden, and a 7–3 upset victory over second-place favorite Czechoslovakia.

For the first game in the medal round, the United States played the Soviets. Finishing the first period tied at 2–2, and the Soviets leading 3–2 following the second, the U.S. team scored two more goals to take their first lead during the third and final period, winning the game 4–3. Following the game, the U.S. won the gold medal by beating Finland in their final game. Likewise, the Soviet Union took the silver medal by beating Sweden.

ESPN, ABC, NBCSN and the NHL Network have all announced special programming to mark the latest anniversary of the 4-3 win on February 22, 1980 at the arena now named after Brooks, which ended Soviet ambitions of the Olympic title.

The movie, ‘Miracle’ which captured the essence and excitement of the 1980 Olympic hockey games will air multiple times on NBC this month.