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1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team
Timeline 1980 Olympic team selection, games, Gold. -
Herb Brooks Named Head Coach
In May of 1979 The United States Olympic Committe named Herb Brooks the head coach for the upcoming 1980 Olympics Hockey team. "I'm extremely honored and humbled. To be picked when there are so many outstanding amateur hockey coaches in the nation, well, let's just say it's something I never really expected to happen." -Herb Brooks -
USA Team Tryouts
Tryouts for the 1980 Olympic team were held on June 15 1979, Herb Brooks, instead of using the full two weeks of tryouts Herb came in with a list of previously selected (by him) players, and took 2 days to fill in the rest of the roster spots for the 'long roster' that would be cut again before the Olympics. The long roster was 26-30 players depending on when in the season, and what source you look at. Over 100 players tried out -
Practices Start
On June 25th USA Olympic hockey team started practice, Practicing 5/7 days a week the team soon started to bond on a different level.
Herb Brooks was known for yelling and berating players for perceived weaknesses and to push them harder. "Prepare to grow through Pain." -Herb Brooks I wonder if the dreaded skating drill "Herbies" got that name because of his practices. -
National Sports Festival 1979
7/29/1979-8/1/1979 -National Sports Festival
Held in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the end of July 1979.
Herb Brooks had his larger roster of 26-30 players at the festival. -
Exhibition Games
In September of 1979 the exhibition games start.
The USA Hockey team played a 61-game pre-Olympic schedule against foreign, college and professional teams, finishing with a 42-16-3 record.
One of the teams they played was Russia, in the final exibition game, USA lost 10-3 and was a huge underdog going into the games seeded 7th. -
USA vs Norway -Exibition Game
The USA Olympic team plays Norway in a exhibition game and ties 3-3. -
Team Quotes - Then and Later
Photo: Jim Craig's gear from 1980, at the Hockey Hall of Fame “He messed with our minds at every opportunity,”
-Mike Ramsey. “If Herb came into my house today, it would still be uncomfortable,” -Captain Mike Eruzione, years later. "We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams."
-Herb Brooks -
Final 1980 Team Named
The final players were cut. The picture is the final roster.
Jim Craig; Steve Janaszak; Bill Baker; Dave Christian; Ken Morrow; Jack O'Callahan; Mike Ramsey; Bob Suter; Neal Broten; Steve Christoff; Mike Eruzione; John Harrington; Mark Johnson; Rob McClanahan; Mark Pavelich; Buzz Schneider; Dave Silk; Eric Strobel; Phil Verchota; Mark Wells -
USA vs. USSR Exhibition Game
In the USA VS. USSR exhibition game the USSR beats USA 10-3 in a blowout game. This is believed to have made the USSR team under estimate the young USA team later in the Olympics. -
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony for the 1980 Winter Olympics.
This was the second time the Games were held in Lake Placid, the first time was in 1932.
Artifical snow is introduced for the first time. Many snow machines were used to ensure that the competitions took place in the best possible conditions.
Official opening of the Games by: Vice-President of the United States, Walter Mondale -
Game 1 USA vs Sweden
The USA team ties Sweden in their first game 2-2.
Between periods Coach Brooks argued McClanahan. Many believe this had nothing to do with how McClanahan was playing, and had more to do with the fact that the team wasn't playing good in their first Olympic game. "This team isn't talented enough to win on talent alone."
-Herb Brooks -
Game 2 USA vs Czechslovakia
The USA team wins dominating Czechslovakia 7-3. -
Game 3 USA vs Norway
The USA team looks strong in their 5-1 win over Norway -
Game 4 USA vs Romania
The USA team wins over Romania 7-2. -
Game 5 USA vs West Germany
USA defeats West Germany 5-2, and looks toward their next game vs USSR. -
Game 6 USA Defeats USSR
USA vs USSR (Russia) semi-final game. Winner to play for Olympic Gold Medals. USA wins 4-3
Interesting facts...
Mike Eruzione scored "The Goal" to win the game.
The game was NOT live on tv. It was on tape delay, and nobody knew it.
Famous Quote from the game:
"Do you Believe in Miracles? YES!"
-Al Michaels -
Closing Ceremony 1980 Winter Olympics
The closing ceremony of the 1980 Winter Olympics.
The "Miracle on Ice" lives on to this day. -
Gold Medal Game vs Finland
Febuary 24th 1980 the USA Olympic team finished their run by winning in the Championship Gold Medal Game with a 4-2 win over Finland.
This game was aired Live on TV.
In the locker room for this game Herb Brooks famously quoted:
"You were born to be a player. You were meant to be here. This moment is yours." -
SI Cover
The March 3, 1980 cover of Sports Illustrated. There was no caption or headlines. I don't think it was needed. “It may just be the single most indelible moment in all of U.S. sports history,” said Sports Illustrated of Team USA's improbable gold medal run at the 1980 Winter Olympics. “One that sent an entire nation into a frenzy.”
