30 For 30 1980 Olympic Hockey
Do you remember the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York? If you're a fan of hockey or American sports in general, chances are you do. It was there that the United States men's ice hockey team pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by defeating the heavily favored Soviet Union team. The story of that team and their improbable victory has been told countless times in books, movies, and documentaries. One such documentary is ESPN's "30 for 30: Miracle on Ice," which chronicles the team's journey to Olympic gold.
The Setup
The 1980 Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York, and the United States was far from the favorite to win the gold medal in men's hockey. The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the previous six Winter Olympics and were considered the best team in the world. The Americans, on the other hand, were made up mostly of college players and had finished seventh in the previous Winter Olympics.
The Team
Head coach Herb Brooks assembled a team of mostly college players who had never played together before. Their average age was just 21 years old, and the majority of the players were from the University of Minnesota. Brooks had a vision for the team, though, and he believed that they could beat the Soviet Union if they worked hard enough and played as a team.
The Soviet Union
The Soviet Union team was considered to be the best in the world at the time. They had won the gold medal in five of the previous six Winter Olympics and had defeated the United States in a game just weeks before the Olympics began. Led by the great goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and future NHL star Sergei Makarov, the Soviet team was heavily favored to win the gold medal again.
The Game
The game between the United States and the Soviet Union took place on February 22, 1980, and it was a tense, back-and-forth affair. The Soviets scored first, but the Americans tied it up before the end of the first period. The Soviets scored again in the second period, but the Americans responded with two goals of their own to take a 3-2 lead heading into the final period. The Soviets tied it up early in the third period, but the Americans scored what would be the game-winning goal with just under 10 minutes left in the game. The Americans held on for the rest of the game and won 4-3.
The Aftermath
The victory over the Soviet Union was an enormous upset and is still considered one of the greatest moments in American sports history. The United States went on to defeat Finland in their next game to win the gold medal. The members of the team became instant heroes and many of them went on to have successful careers in the NHL. The victory also had a lasting impact on American hockey, as it inspired a new generation of players and fans.
