Miracle on Ice

Years after a shadow of darkness swallowed the happiness of the nation, February 22, 1980 marked a day that reinvigorated hope in the American population. Events that occurred during the 1970’s and in 1980 had caused America’s national pride to be wounded: the Fall of South Vietnam to the Watergate Scandal that resulted in President Nixon’s resignation. In 1977, Jimmy Carter was sworn into office as President of the United States of America. Three years later, the United States of America hosted the XIII Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York in 1980. At that time, Americans had very little to look to: due to the Iranian hostage crisis, struggling economy and the Cold War. February 22, 1980 will be remembered as a day that the youthful US ice hockey team would influence the American culture by recapturing the hopes of the American population through an unexpected win.

With just six months to create and train a team, head coach Herb Brooks chose 20 college aged hockey players. With the odds already not in the team’s favor, only one of the 20, Buzz Schneider, had actual Olympic experience. Boston University and the University of Minnesota, rivals in college hockey, represented most of the team. Brooks previously coached at the University of Minnesota; where he coached Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Steve Christoff, Steve Janaszak, Rob McClanahan, Mike Ramsey, Buzz Schneider, Eric Strobel and Phil Verchota; all of whom he had selected to play for Team USA. On the other hand, the team captain, Mike Eruzione, and teammates; Jim Craig, Jack O’Callahan and Dave Silk all played for University of Minnesota’s rival, Boston University. University of Wisconsin was represented by Mark Johnson and Bob Suter; while Ken Morrow and Mar...

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...ght a source of pride and celebration that had not been present for years. A team full of amateur, college students had beaten a team who had practiced all year round. The game also inspired a generation of American kids to play hockey. It brought attention to a sport that was overlooked by many. The 1980 Winter Olympics changed the world of Olympic hockey by allowing professional players and NHL stars to participate in the Olympics. The Olympics also brought the emergence of new technologies that made it possible to follow all sport events; only those in the arena at the time saw the event live.

“Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” –Al Michaels

The “Miracle on Ice” changed the American culture with the win that no one expected to come from a youthful group chosen by coach Brooks. Americans were struggling with the hardships from foreign and domestic issues.