1980 Olympic Hockey Team

1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team "’Do you believe in miracles? YES!’ said AABC broadcaster Al Michaels’”, (Painter). Al michaels said this line as the 1980 United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team upset the Soviet Union in the semi-final game. The United States team was composed of a highly skilled coach, Herb Brooks, as he had just won a national championship for college hockey with the University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers in 1979 (Barnes). Herb Brooks was not new to the program as he was the last player cut from gold medal winning team in 1960 (“The 1980 U.S. Olympic Team”). Coach Brooks had to choose a twenty man roster and he did not take any chances as he went with who he knew, the local boys (“The 1980 U.S. Olympic Team”). So, while
As the U.S. tied Sweden two to two, defeating Czechoslovakia seven to three, easily defeated Norway and Romania, and had a come from behind victory over Germany to complete pool play with a 4-0-1 record (Painter). After trading off a goal on each side halfway through the first period, the Soviets scored again and seemed to have been taking a two to one lead into the first intermission until Mark Johnson scored in the dying seconds of the first period. After review as there was no time on the clock, the goal was deemed a goal (“U.S. hockey team makes miracle on ice.”). When the second period began, the Soviets had pulled arguably the best goalie in the world Vladislav Tretiak after letting up two goals (“Feb. 22, 1980 | U.S.A. Beats Soviet Union in 'Miracle on Ice'.”). The Soviets would regain the lead with two minutes left in the second period (“U.S. hockey team makes miracle on ice.”). As reporters say, if it was not for Jim Craig, the lead for the Soviets would have been larger than three to two (“U.S. hockey team makes miracle on ice.”). In the middle of the third, nine minutes in, Johnson scored a goal and nearly one minute and a half later, Mike Eruzione scored what is now to be the game winning goal of the semi final game (“U.S. hockey team makes miracle on ice.”). With around half a period to play and a one goal lead, the United States depended on their all star goalie, Jim Craig. Jim Craig led the whole entire Olympics with saves and save percentage. Jim Craig is known to be the all-star of the insane upset over the Soviet Union who was arguable the best team in the world