AP Was There: An Olympic ‘Miracle On Ice’ As USA Shocks USSR | Hockey

EDITOR’S NOTE — The victory by the U.S. men’s hockey team over the heavily favored Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics is widely regarded as one of the greatest upsets in sports history. With the American men Won Olympic hockey gold for the first time since — 46 years to the day — The Associated Press is publishing two stories from that night as printed on Feb. 23, 1980, in the Pottsville (Pa.) Republican:

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By Hal Bock

AP Sports Writer

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — Driven by their own emotion and the cheers of a frenzied, star-studded crowd, the United States hockey team pulled off what might be the most stunning upset in Olympic history and are on the brink of a medal at the 1980 Winter Games.

Call it Team Excitement. This ambitious, energetic group of college kids ignored adversity and rallied from behind on third period goals by Mark Johnson and Mike Eruzione to pull off a stunning 4-3 upset victory over the defending champion Soviet Union on Friday night.

With roars of “USA! USA! USA!” ringing in their ears, America’s comeback kids surrounded the red-hot, 36-goal goal of Jim Craig after a sensational victory that set off a wild celebration, first on the ice and then throughout this Olympic town.

Just as the hockey game ended, fireworks exploded over Mirror Lake – part of the traditional awards ceremony that salutes Friday’s medalists, including American slalom racer Phil Mahre. But the coincidence was just too good for the flag-festooned crowd that happily spilled into the narrow streets of this tiny town after the American hockey victory.

“With all due respect to that team and to the (U.S.) silver medal team in 1972, that has to be the biggest win in our Olympic history,” coach Herb Brooks said.

Believe the man.

When the United States won Olympic gold in 1960, the Soviet Union was not yet the hockey powerhouse it is today. The Russian team that beat America 20 years ago was still refining its game. The one that beat America on Friday night is recognized by most hockey people as the best unit in the world – and that includes professionals, who these Soviets often handled with ease.

Brooks knew all this when he gave his pregame speech to his team. It was simple and to the point. This is what he told newsmen: “You were born to be a player. You’re meant to be here. This moment is yours. You’re meant to be here at this time. Let’s have balance and possession with the puck.”

And then he sent Team Excitement onto the ice.

Three times the young Americans fell behind by a goal and each time they came back, first on a goal by Buzz Schneider and then one by Mark Johnson.

Johnson’s goal came with a single waning second left on the clock in the first period. But the Soviets regained the lead in the second period and limited the Americans to two goals in those 20 minutes. Once again, they seemed to be in control.

Then, midway through the final period, Johnson and captain Mike Eruzione scored goals just 81 seconds apart, putting the United States ahead.

Still, there were 10 minutes to play and it could be an eternity. It looked like one for the Americans, who turned back every Soviet push and then exploded in joyous excitement at the final buzzer. They tackled each other and rolled happily on the ice like so many excited children, while the Soviets stood and waited for the traditional handshake ceremony.

The loss was the first in Olympic competition for the Soviet Union since 1968 and the Americans needed only a win over Finland on Sunday to clinch the gold. But the Russians still have a shot at the gold. To win it, they would have to beat Sweden on Sunday and hope that Finland defeats the United States.

Sweden drew Finland 3-3 in Friday night’s other medal round match. That left the United States with three points, the Soviet Union and Sweden with two and Finland with one in the mini-tournament to decide the medals.

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By Frank Brown

AP Sports Writer

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — For a change, it was the Soviet hockey players who looked on with envy. Precipitated, they leaned on their sticks in anticipation of the ceremonial handshake that concludes every international competition.

Usually it is they who play the gracious winner’s role. But this time, this one Friday at the Winter Olympics, it was the Americans’ turn; their 4-3 victory made the victors the victors.

Hockey gold medal hopes are alive and well in Lake Placid. The Americans are one win over Finland away from making their gold medal dream a reality.

“I’m going to bite myself to make sure it’s true,” right winger John Harrington said.

Oh, it’s true – as true as the dramatic pre-game pep talk by Coach Herb Brooks; as true as the game-winning burst of third-period goals by Mark Johnson and Mike Eruzione in a 1:21 span … as true as the phone call from President Jimmy Carter to the rowdy American locker room.

“He said we made the American people very proud; that we reflect the ideas of the country and what we stand for,” said Brooks, who – along with the entire US Olympic delegation – was invited to the White House on Monday.

The invitation stands no matter what happens on Sunday, and any number of things might. The Americans, this dramatic victory forever theirs, could still end up out of the medal race if they are badly beaten by Finland. They could win a bronze, or a silver, or a gold.

Here’s how it stands: After Friday’s two medal round games (Sweden and Finland tied 3-3 in the other), the Americans have three points, the Soviet Union and Sweden two, and Finland one. If Sweden draws the Soviet Union on Sunday and Finland beats the Americans, everyone will have three points. If Finland’s win is a big one, the infamous “goal differential” (goals given up minus goals scored) will break the tie and leave the USA with nothing to show for its crushing upset triumph on Friday.

If virtually anything happens other than a lopsided American loss, the Americans will win a medal.

“But we’ll worry about that tomorrow,” Mark Johnson said after the Americans knocked goaltender Vladislav Tretiak out of the game, rallied from three one-goal deficits, and stunned the Soviet team that has won the last four Olympic gold medals and is heavily favored to repeat.

If the Soviets advanced, the Americans rallied. Finally, on a power play at 8:39 of the third period, a Dave Silk pass bounced off defenseman Sergei Starikov’s skate and bounced right to Johnson. A five-foot shot was all it took to tie the game at 3-3, and Eruzione scored a 25-footer at the 10-minute mark to settle the issue.

For the fifth time in the six games they played for her, the Americans gave up the first goal. Vladimir Krutov tipped an Aleksei Kasatonov shot past goalie Jim Craig at 9:12 of the opening period.

Buzzy Schneider brought the United States back at 14:03, driving a 55-foot shot over Tretiak’s left shoulder and marking the beginning of the end for the internationally acclaimed netminder. Tretiak’s vulnerability is long shots, and his muff of another one helped the Americans tie it with one second left in the period.

Sergei Makarov fought away from a Johnson check to curl a 15-foot shot past Craig at 17:34, but – with the clock winding down and the crowd of 8,500 chanting “USA, USA,” the USA stormed back. Dave Christian took a 100-foot shot at Tretiak, who kicked it directly in front of Johnson.

A few fakes later, the game was tied 2-2 and Tretiak was gone. Vladimir Myshkin, who beat the National Hockey League All-Stars 6-0 last February to win the Challenge Cup for the Soviets, took over.

He fared no better, and the Soviets suffered their first loss in an Olympic hockey game since 1968, when the Czechs beat them 5-4 in Grenoble, France.

People poured into the streets when it was over, waving the flags they had brought to the game, shouting their trademark chant and going as crazy as the players themselves.

“We went crazy,” (Rob) McClanahan said. “What do you do when you win a game like this? You call it up. You hug each other. You shake hands.”

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AP Corporate Archives contributed to this report.

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics