Today in History—February 22: A Cold War Showdown on Ice

On this day in 1980, the impossible happened at the Lake Placid Winter Games: A ragtag U.S. hockey team of college players beat the Soviet Union’s “Red Machine.” In the game’s waning seconds, broadcaster Al Michaels asked, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Thanks to those words, the upset became known as the “Miracle on Ice,” and it is one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

But for Americans and Soviets, it was far more than just a hockey game.

At the time, the Cold War was heating up. Just months earlier, the U.S.S.R. had invaded Afghanistan, and the United States was threatening to boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. America was also in a recession, and the Iran hostage crisis was dragging on. The country was looking for something–anything–to cheer about.

No one expected it to be this.

The Soviet hockey team was called the “Red Machine” for good reason. Essentially a professional squad, it dominated international play. The Soviets had outscored the United States in their last 12 meetings by a combined score of 117–26, averaging nearly 10 goals per game to just 2 for the Americans, and they had won the previous four Olympics. And the American team? A group of relatively inexperienced players.

It would indeed take a miracle for the United States to win.

The Soviets scored first, but a U.S. goal with one second left in the opening period tied the game. Entering the third period, the Soviets led, 3–2. Midway through, the Americans pulled even again. Soon afterward, team captain Mike Eruzione snapped a long wrist shot past the Soviet goalie to give the United States the lead. In the closing stretch, U.S. goalie Jim Craig made a number of clutch saves. When the siren sounded, the improbable had happened: The United States had won, 4–3.

But the story was not yet over.

Two days later the U.S. faced Finland. A victory would secure the gold medal. Trailing 2–1 after two periods, the Americans rallied following a pep talk from coach Herb Brooks. They scored three unanswered goals to win, 4–2, and become Olympic champions.

In the celebration that followed, Craig draped the U.S. flag over his shoulders like a superhero’s cape. For many Americans, it was fitting—a ragtag group of hockey players had pulled off the unthinkable and, for a moment, given the country something to cheer about.