1988 Us Olympic Hockey Team Roster
The 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada marked the second time that the United States and Canada hosted the Winter Games. For the U.S. Olympic hockey team, it was a chance to redeem themselves after a disappointing performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Under the leadership of head coach Dave Peterson, the U.S. team brought together a group of talented players who were hungry for a gold medal.
The Coaching Staff
As mentioned, Dave Peterson was the head coach of the U.S. Olympic hockey team in 1988. Peterson had previously coached the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team and was known for his emphasis on skill development and team building.
Assisting Peterson were three other coaches: Doug Woog, Bob Johnson, and George Gwozdecky. All three coaches had extensive experience in the sport of hockey and played important roles in preparing the U.S. hockey team for the Winter Olympics.
The Roster
The 1988 U.S. Olympic hockey team roster included 20 players, each of whom brought their own unique skills and experiences to the table. Here are the players:
- Chris Chelios
- Clark Donatelli
- Jim Johannson
- John Cullen
- John LeClair
- Kevin Stevens
- Chris Terreri
- Mike Richter
- Tim Thomas
- Ed Olczyk
- Joe Mullen
- David Emma
- Scott Young
- Phil Housley
- Ken Morrow
- Tom Kurvers
- Gary Suter
- David Jensen
- Doug Brown
- Mark Wells
As you can see, the roster included some big names in hockey, including Chris Chelios, Phil Housley, and Ed Olczyk. These players would prove to be instrumental in the team's success at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
The Journey to Gold
At the 1988 Winter Olympics, the U.S. hockey team was placed in Group B along with Canada, Finland, Norway, and West Germany. The team got off to a strong start by defeating Norway and West Germany in their first two games. However, they suffered a setback when they lost to Finland in their third game.
The loss to Finland sent the U.S. team to the quarterfinals, where they faced the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was favored to win the game, but the U.S. team played with heart and determination, ultimately winning the game 4-3. This victory is often referred to as the "Miracle on Ice 2," as it was a stunning upset that echoed the U.S. team's historic win over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
After their victory over the Soviet Union, the U.S. team faced Finland in the semifinals. This time, the U.S. team emerged victorious, defeating Finland 4-1.
Finally, the U.S. team faced Canada in the gold medal game. The two teams played a hard-fought game, but it was the U.S. team that emerged victorious, winning the game 2-1 and taking home the gold medal.
Conclusion
The 1988 U.S. Olympic hockey team roster included a talented group of players who worked together to achieve a historic victory at the Winter Olympics in Calgary. Led by head coach Dave Peterson and featuring big names like Chris Chelios and Phil Housley, the U.S. team overcame tough competition to bring home the gold medal. To this day, their victory is remembered as one of the greatest moments in Olympic history.
