Miracle on Ice is the popular name given to the victory of the United States men’s hockey team over the Russian team in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games . The two teams met on Feb. 22, 1980, in the semifinals in Lake Placid , New York, with the Russians heavily favored. The American team consisted of amateur and college players. The Russians had won gold medals in five of the previous six Olympic competitions. The American team qualified for the medal round by tying favored Sweden and then defeating Czechoslovakia, Norway, Romania, and West Germany. The Russians easily won their five matches.
The first period of the semifinal match ended in a 2-2 tie with American goals scored by Dave Christian and Mark Johnson. The Russians scored the only goal of the second period, taking a 3-2 lead into the final period. Johnson tied the game for the Americans, and Mike Eruzione put the Americans ahead with a goal with 10 minutes left in the period. The Russians fought to score the tying goal, but the Americans, led by goalie Jim Craig, held them off.
The final moments became part of sports history as sportscaster Al Michaels counted down the last seconds in the telecast of the game: “11 seconds, you’ve got 10 seconds, the countdown going on right now. Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”
In the gold medal game, the United States defeated Finland , 4-2, but the finals were an anticlimax compared to the victory over the Russians. That contest captured the imagination of the entire country, and the American players became national heroes. The arena where the game was held was renamed for Herb Brooks , the U.S. team coach. Al Michaels was named Sportscaster of the Year for his call of the game. The International Ice Hockey Federation selected the game as the number one international ice hockey story of the century.
