MIRACLE THE STORY OF THE 1980 US OLYMPIC HOCKEY TEAM

Herb Brooks named the head coach of the 1980 United States Olympic Team Herb Brooks named the head coach of the 1980 United States Olympic Team

Once cut from 1960 Olympic team (1 st US Gold medal), played on 1964 and 1968 teams Once cut from 1960 Olympic team (1 st US Gold medal), played on 1964 and 1968 teams

Herb Brooks spent the 1970s as head coach at the University of Minnesota, leading the team to 3 NCAA titles and earning notice for his harsh personality and fanatical preparation for the games. Herb Brooks spent the 1970s as head coach at the University of Minnesota, leading the team to 3 NCAA titles and earning notice for his harsh personality and fanatical preparation for the games.

After being selected as the US Olympic Team coach, Brooks spent 8 months nurturing the team.

He held numerous tryout camps, which included psychological testing, before selecting a roster from several hundred prospects.

There was no matching the Europeans in skill, so Brooks emphasized speed, conditioning and discipline. There was no matching the Europeans in skill, so Brooks emphasized speed, conditioning and discipline.

Knowing how luck plays a large role in short tournaments, he wanted a team that could grab whatever opportunities came its way.

Rivalries ran high among the players, most of whom hailed from Minnesota or Massachusetts. Brooks worked to unite them

Brooks challenged them physically, but also verbally, questioning whether they were good enough, tough enough, worthy of the task

a few confrontations ended in shouting matches or even physical confrontations.

The team then spent four months playing a grinding schedule of exhibition games across Europe and North America.

Brooks said the 1980 Olympic team members embodied qualities he admired most. "The players had big egos, but they didn't have ego problems. That's why all-star teams traditionally seem to self-destruct. We didn't." Brooks said the 1980 Olympic team members embodied qualities he admired most. "The players had big egos, but they didn't have ego problems. That's why all-star teams traditionally seem to self-destruct. We didn't."

The UNITED STATES was the 7th seed in the 12-team Olympic tournament They had lost to the Soviet team, recognized as the best hockey team in the world, 10–3, in an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden just days before. They had lost to the Soviet team, recognized as the best hockey team in the world, 10–3, in an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden just 13 days before.

The Americans reached the medal round with a 4–0–1 record.

USAUSA USSRUSSR SWESWE FINFIN 1980 Winter Olympics Medal Round

Playing in front of a rowdy home crowd at Lake Placid, NY, at the peak of the, the United States fell behind early in the game Playing in front of a rowdy home crowd at Lake Placid, NY, at the peak of the Cold War, the United States fell behind early in the game

But Mark Johnson scored a goal to tie the game, 2–2, just before the end of the first period.

Captain scored the game-winning goal with a wrist shot late in the 3rd period, and goalie made 39 saves as the team held on to beat the unbeatable, 4–3. Captain Mike Eruzione scored the game-winning goal with a wrist shot late in the 3rd period, and goalie Jim Craig made 39 saves as the team held on to beat the unbeatable, 4–3.

The U.S. team, made up of college players and long-shot pro hopefuls like Eruzione and Buzz Schneider, defeated a Soviet program that had dominated the Olympics since The U.S. team, made up of college players and long-shot pro hopefuls like Eruzione and Buzz Schneider, defeated a Soviet program that had dominated the Olympics since 1964.

The U.S. team beat a Soviet team that had seven players from the 1976 Olympic team and one player who had played in three other Olympiads.

The players' mental toughness was demonstrated when they came back from behind to beat Finland 4-2 to capture the gold medal two days after stunning the Soviets. The players' mental toughness was demonstrated when they came back from behind to beat Finland 4-2 to capture the gold medal two days after stunning the Soviets.

It's been forgotten by many that if the United States had fallen to Finland, it would not have earned a medal at all, gold or otherwise.