1980 Us Olympic Hockey Team Schedule
The 1980 Winter Olympics held in Lake Placid, New York, will always be remembered as one of the most iconic moments in American sports history. The US Olympic Hockey Team's miraculous victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union in the semifinals and subsequent gold medal win against Finland in the final are etched in the minds of every American sports fan. But, do you know what their schedule looked like during that tournament? Let's take a look:
Pre-Olympic Schedule
Before the Winter Olympics, the US Olympic Hockey Team played a few warm-up games to prepare. Here's a look at their pre-Olympic schedule:
- December 2, 1979: USA 3 - Soviet Union 3
- December 9, 1979: USA 4 - Sweden 4
- December 21, 1979: USA 4 - Norway 3
- December 22, 1979: USA 6 - Finland 6
- December 23, 1979: USA 2 - Canada 3
The US team was still trying to find their footing in these games, but they managed to get some positive results against some of the top teams in the world. These games would be crucial in helping them prepare for the grueling competitions ahead.
Olympic Schedule
Once the Winter Olympics began, the US team was placed in Group A, along with Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Norway, and Romania. Here's a look at their group stage games:
February 12, 1980: USA 2 - Sweden 2
The US team started their Olympics campaign with a draw against Sweden. The game was quite even, with both teams having their fair share of chances, but neither could find a winner.
February 14, 1980: USA 7 - Czechoslovakia 3
In their second game, the US team showed their true potential, crushing a strong Czechoslovakia side by 7 goals to 3. The US team dominated from the start, scoring 4 first-period goals and never looking back. This game would be a turning point for the US team as they gained a lot of confidence in their abilities.
February 16, 1980: USA 5 - Norway 1
The US team continued their dominant form against Norway, comfortably winning 5-1. This game saw a total team effort from the US side, with goals coming from five different players.
February 17, 1980: USA 4 - Romania 2
In their final group stage game, the US team faced Romania and won 4-2. It was a closer game than the previous ones, but the US team managed to get the win and finish on top of Group A.
After topping Group A, the US team advanced to the medal round, where they would face the top teams from the other group. Here's a look at those games:
February 22, 1980: USA 4 - Soviet Union 3
This was the game that made history. The US team faced the heavily-favored Soviet Union in the semifinals, and nobody gave them a chance of winning. However, the US team played brilliantly, with Mike Eruzione scoring the winning goal in the third period to secure a 4-3 win. This game is widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
February 24, 1980: USA 4 - Finland 2
The US team faced Finland in the final, and they were now just one win away from winning the gold medal. The game was tight, with both teams playing some fantastic hockey, but the US team managed to win 4-2, thanks to goals from Mark Johnson and Mike Ramsey. This win gave the US team their first gold medal in Olympic hockey since 1960.
And that's a wrap on the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team's schedule. It was a tournament filled with drama, excitement, and history. The US team's triumph over the Soviet Union will always be remembered as one of the greatest moments in American sports history.
