Miracle On Ice

The Miracle on Ice: How the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team Shocked the World
The date was February 22, 1980. The place: Lake Placid, New York. The event: the Olympic men's hockey semifinals. The opponents: the United States and the Soviet Union, engaged in the pivotal game of a new era of sports known as the Cold War. On this night, a group of American college players and amateurs took on the powerhouse Soviets, four-time defending Olympic champions and international hockey dynasty. What transpired would become immortalized as the "Miracle on Ice," one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Background
In 1980, tensions between the superpowers hit an apex after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the prior year. President Jimmy Carter had announced an American boycott of the upcoming Moscow Olympics. The Lake Placid Games took on enormous political symbolism in this climate. The U.S. hockey team was comprised of college players, as pros were not yet allowed in the Olympics. The group was young, inexperienced, and entered as clear underdogs.
The Soviets by contrast were seasoned veterans, having played together for years. They were part of the Red Army team that dominated club and international hockey throughout the 70s. The Soviets pioneered innovative coaching methods and training techniques, approaching the sport with machine-like precision, speed and discipline. In exhibitions that year, they had easily defeated NHL all-star teams. The Americans were given no realistic chance of an upset.
But the U.S. team had been preparing for this moment since coming together in the summer of 1979 under coach Herb Brooks. Brooks relentlessly drilled the team with a hybrid American-Canadian style emphasizing creativity and teamwork over individual talent. The Americans had battled opponents and each other during a grueling 63 game pre-Olympic tour. They were primed for battle against the juggernaut Soviets in Lake Placid.
Period 1: Stunning the Soviets
A raucous home crowd in Lake Placid roared as the puck dropped. The Soviets assumed control early, keeping the puck in the U.S. zone with relentless offensive pressure. Yet the Americans held their ground, playing tenacious defense to counter the Soviet skill and finesse. The first period ended scoreless, a remarkable feat for the underdogs.
Just seconds into the second period, Mike Eruzione, captain of the U.S team, scored to put the Americans ahead 1-0. The Soviets attacked furiously, but U.S. goalie Jim Craig withstood the barrage. Mark Johnson added another goal, before Vladimir Krutov cut the U.S. lead to 2-1 entering the final frame. An improbable upset was within reach.
Period 2: Holding On
Clinging to their slim lead, the Americans found themselves pinned yet again in their own zone as the Soviets unleashed wave after wave of lethal shots. After being outshot 39-16 through two periods, it appeared only a matter of time before they cracked. But the Americans kept throwing their bodies in front of shots, while Craig made acrobatic save after save.
Then, with exactly 10 minutes left, Johnson scored again on a power play to extend the U.S. advantage to 3-1. ABC announcer Al Michaels declared “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” The impossible seemed within the Americans’ grasp, but doubt lingered whether they could hold off the mighty Red Machine for 10 more agonizing minutes.
Suddenly with 5 minutes left, disaster struck for the Americans - the Soviets scored twice in quick succession to tie the game 3-3. The comeback was on, and players hung their heads with the gold medal seemingly lost after coming so near. Herb Brooks demanded his players disregard the scoreboard and play their game, shift by shift.
The Final Moments
In the game's final minute, the Americans mounted one last attack. With only 34 seconds left, Eruzione fired a shot that slipped between the stunned Soviet goalie’s pads to put the U.S. back in front 4-3. As the stunned Soviets furiously buzzed in the American zone seeking the equalizer, the U.S. players fiercely blocked every path to the goal, sacrificing their bodies for one final stand.
The clock ticked down as the final seconds were announced over the loudspeaker. “Five...four...three...two...one!” When the horn finally sounded, the Americans exploded into euphoric celebration while the Soviets stood frozen in bitter disbelief. The underdog college kids had achieved an unbelievable triumph, defeating the Soviets and ending their 20 year, 63 game Olympic winning streak.
Making History
Two days later, the U.S defeated Finland to clinch the astonishing gold medal. But it was the "Miracle on Ice" upset of the Soviets that became etched into history and part of American sports lore. At the height of nuclear tensions, the U.S. amateurs had overcome seemingly impossible odds through teamwork, determination and heart. The game transcended hock

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The Miracle on Ice, how thenineteen eighty US Olympic hockey team shocked the
world. The date was February twentysecond, nineteen eighty. The place Lake
Placid, New York. The eventthe Olympic Men's Hockey semi Finals. The
opponents the United States and the SovietUnion, engaged in the pivotal game of
a new era of sports known asthe Cold War. On this night,

(00:20):
a group of American college players andamateurs took on the powerhouse Soviets, four
time defending Olympic champions in international hockeydynasty. What transpired would become immortalized as
the Miracle on Ice, one ofthe greatest upsets in sports history. Background.
In nineteen eighty, tensions between thesuperpowers hit an apex after the Soviet

(00:42):
invasion of Afghanistan. The prior year, President Jimmy Carter had announced an American
boycott of the upcoming Moscow Olympics.The Lake Placid Games took on enormous political
symbolism in this climate. The UShockey team was comprised of college players,
as pros were not yet allowed inthe Olympics. The group was young,
inexperienced, and entered as clear underdogs. The Soviets, by contrast, were

(01:06):
seasoned veterans, having played together foryears. They were part of the Red
Army team that dominated club and internationalhockey throughout the seventies. The Soviets pioneered
innovative coaching methods and training techniques,approaching the sport with machine like precision,
speed, and discipline. In exhibitionsthat year, they had easily defeated NHL
All Star teams. The Americans weregiven no realistic chance of an upset,

(01:32):
but the US team had been preparingfor this moment since coming together in the
summer of nineteen seventy nine under coachHerb Brooks. Brooks relentlessly drilled the team
with a hybrid American Canadian style,emphasizing creativity and teamwork over individual talent.
The Americans had battled opponents in eachother during a grueling sixty three game pre
Olympic tour. They were primed forbattle against the juggernaut Soviets in Lake Placid,

(01:56):
Period one, stunning the Soviets talachushome crowd in Lake Placid roared as
the puck dropped. The Soviets assumedcontrol early, keeping the puck in the
US zone with relentless offensive pressure,yet the Americans held their ground, playing
tenacious defense to counter the Soviet skillin finesse. The first period ended scoreless,
a remarkable feat for the underdogs.Just seconds into the second period,

(02:20):
Mike Eruzioni, captain of the USteam, scored to put the Americans ahead
one zero. The Soviets attacked furiously, but US goalie Jim Craig withstood the
barrage. Mark Johnson added another goalbefore Vladimir Krutov cut the US lead to
two one. Entering the final frame, an improbable upset was within reach.
Period two, holding on clinging totheir slim lead, the Americans found themselves

(02:45):
pinned yet again in their own zoneas the Soviets unleashed wave after wave of
lethal shots. After being outshot thirtynine sixteen through two periods, it appeared
only a matter of time before theycracked, but the Americans kept throwing their
body in front of shots while Craigmade acrobatic save after save. Then,
with exactly ten minutes left, Johnsonscored again on a power play to extend

(03:08):
the US advantage to three to one. ABC announcer Al Michaels declared, do
you believe in miracles. Yes,the impossible seemed within the Americans grasp,
but doubt lingered whether they could holdoff the mighty Red Machine for ten more
agonizing minutes. Suddenly, with fiveminutes left, disaster struck for the Americans.

(03:30):
The Soviets scored twice in quick successionto tie the game three three.
The comeback was on and players hungtheir heads, with the gold medal seemingly
lost. After coming so near herbBrooks demanded his players disregard the scoreboard and
play their game shift by shift thefinal moments. In the game's final minute,
the Americans mounted one last attack.With only thirty four seconds left,

(03:51):
Iruzione fired a shot that slipped betweenthe stunned Soviet goalies pads to put the
US back in front four three.As the stunned Soviets furiously buzzed in the
American zone seeking the equalizer, theUS players fiercely blocked every path to the
goal, sacrificing their bodies for onefinal stand. The clock ticked down as

(04:13):
the final seconds were announced over theloudspeaker five four three two one. When
the horn finally sounded, the Americansexploded into euphoric celebration while the Soviets stood
frozen in bitter disbelief. The underdogcollege kids had achieved an unbelievable triumph,
defeating the Soviets and ending their twentyyear sixty three game Olympic winning streak,

(04:36):
making history. Two days later,the US defeated Finland to clinch the astonishing
gold medal, but it was theMiracle on Ice upset of the Soviets that
became etched into history and part ofAmerican sports lore. At the height of
nuclear tensions, the US amateurs hadovercome seemingly impossible odds through teamwork, determination
and heart. The game transcended hockeyto renew America and pride and spirit when

(05:00):
it was needed most legacy, theMiracle on Ice victory was voted the greatest
sports moment of the twentieth century bySports Illustrated. The United States Postal Service
commemorated the game with a stamp,and pop culture still references the legendary upset.
Players like Captain Mike Eruzioni remain heroes, their underdog story continuing to inspire.

(05:23):
As coach Brooks famously told the teambefore the third period, if you
lose this game, you'll take itto your graves, your graves, because
every day, for the rest ofyour lives, you'll have to get up
in the morning and be ordinary.On February twenty second, nineteen eighty,
that group of unknown players accomplished somethingextraordinary and forever became larger than life.

(05:44):
Major characters Herb Brooks, coach architectof Team USA, who forged them into
an unbreakable unit through relentless intensity.His innovative tactics and leadership engineered the miraculous
upset. Jim Craig golie brilliant performancewith thirty six saves kept Team USA in
contention against the Soviet onslaught until theoffense finally delivered. Mike Eruzioni, captain,

(06:10):
provided offensive spark with two crucial goals. His game winner with thirty four
seconds left secured American hockey immortality.Mark Johnson, silky forward, matched Eruzioni's
two goals for vital us scores,notched speedy tying goal to make Soviet comeback
possible. The Soviet opponents, theSoviet players were seasoned stars of their national

(06:33):
Red Army team. Their speed,precision, passing, and conditioning formed a
juggernaut in international hockey throughout the nineteenseventies, Al Michael's announcer, his legendary
broadcast call and final seconds do youBelieve in Miracles? Yes? Captured the
emotion and magnitude of the unforgettable upset. The Cold War backdrop in the Soviet

(06:57):
US clash was heightened by the intensifyingCold War. As the American amateurs battled
the hockey ambassadors of their nuclear armedrival, the miracle became a symbolic triumph
of democracy and freedom over totalitarian oppressionin the American imagination. President Carter called
the players modern day revolutionary war heroeswho made all of us feel proud to

(07:19):
be American. The context of globaltensions amplified the upset significance making of the
underdogs. Coach Herb Brooks began forgingthe US team into a cohesive unit fourteen
months before the Olympics. He selecteda preliminary roster of twenty six American amateurs
in the summer of nineteen seventy ninefrom across college programs, many former rivals.

(07:43):
Brooks put the team through a gruelingseven month, sixty three game exhibition
tour around North America and europe playerspracticed up to five hours a day,
sharpening fundamentals. Slowly, Brooks moldedthem into a team built on chemistry through
countless hours together on and off theice. Brooks implemented an innovative hybrid playing

(08:03):
style, synthesizing the best of thecreative, fluid Canadian skill game with the
rigid Soviet approach, emphasizing speed andconditioning. It maximized the strengths of his
energetic collegians. By February nineteen eighty, he had perfected the chemistry and endurance
to compete with the world's hockey powers. The Americans had gelled into a relentless

(08:26):
band of brothers ready to achieve theimpossible. Iconic moments The Miracle on Ice
provided several iconic scenes that revealed theunfolding miracle in dramatic fashion. Opening face
off, as the underdog college kidsand supreme Soviets stare each other down,
the enormity of the American's daunting taskbecomes apparent Eruzioni's first goal, the US

(08:48):
captain's quick shot, eludes the Sovietsonly one twenty into the second period,
triggering disbelief in ecstatic celebration that anupset is realistic. Final Soviet threats Down
four three, the Soviets furiously buzzin the American zone in the final half
minute, peppering the goal as USplayers dramatically dive and block shots to preserve

(09:09):
the lead, clock hitting zero.As the final horn sounds off ABC broadcaster
Al Michael's famous call, do youBelieve in miracles? Pandemonium erupts among players
and fans as the monumental triumph sinksin celebration on ice. The American team
members hug, weep, and collapsein joyful exhaustion during an emotional metal ceremony

(09:31):
on the ice as cheers rain down. Cultural impact the exhilarating underdog victory at
the height of the Cold War fueledand outpouring of patriotic American joy and pride.
Sports fans have looked to the sportpages for relief. From the front
pages, We've got our relief,at least for one day, President Jimmy

(09:52):
Carter, This impossible dream comes true. ABC announcer Al Michaels. No words
can describe the euphoria after b downthree to two. We were not to
be denied. We were determined tobe champions. Forward Dave Christian. We
just wanted to be the best wecould be. We didn't know how the
people would react, coach Herb Brooks. The upset inspired the popular nineteen eighty

(10:15):
one film Miracle starring Kurt Russell,immortalizing the underdog narrative on screen for new
generations. The triumphant spirit conjured bythe unlikely wins still offers inspiration whenever daunting
challenges appear insurmountable. On ice strategyand execution, Herb Brooks engineered the monumental

(10:35):
upset using shrewd strategy and maximizing histeam's underdog strengths physicality. The Americans out
hit the skilled Soviets, disrupting theirfinesse game through relentless checking and board battles.
Backchecking forwards hustled back furiously to helpon defense, surrounding and frustrating Soviet
attackers. Shot blocking US players bravelysacrifice their bodies to block shot, preventing

(11:00):
the Soviets from unleashing their lethal shootingAccuracy. Goaltending Jim Craig save thirty six
of thirty nine Soviet shots, controllinghis rebounds and covering up loose pucks before
Soviets could pounds speed. Team USAused their youthful speed to beat Soviets to
loose pucks and create counterattacking odd manrushes. Transition game smooth breakouts and crisp

(11:24):
passing on transitions created several scoring chancesagainst the Soviet juggernaut power play. Mark
Johnson's two scores came on the powerplay, capitalizing on Soviet penalties to build
the miraculous lead. By blending bluecollar physicality with flashes of skill and creativity,

(11:45):
the plucky Americans could compete with themachine like Soviets. Despite being outshot
thirty nine sixteen, it was justenough to will the underdogs to everlasting glory.
Continuing legacy, the Miracle on Iceteam created a legacy that still resonates
over forty years later. Their underdogmentality and work ethic inspires athletes in all

(12:07):
sports to achieve the impossible through perseveranceand teamwork. As the Cold War fades
into history, the sheer improbability oftheir triumph only becomes more miraculous with time.
In the end, the Miracle onIce was so much more than a
single hockey game. It was atriumph of the human spirit. Democracy over
totalitarianism, freedom over oppression, gridover skill. Like the miracle of amateur

(12:31):
boxers beating mighty Soviets just days before, it seemed to symbolize the indomitable will
of a nation rising to overcome dauntingodds, now and forever, the mere
mention of do you believe in miraclesconjures up the power of faith when all
hope seems lost. Thanks for listeningto Quiet, Please remember to like and

(12:52):
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