An Olympic men’s hockey game between the United States and the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980, during the medal round of the men’s ice hockey tournament made headlines not only as a win for the US but also for the political undertones of the match up. Although the Soviet Union was a four-time defending gold medalist and heavily favored, the United States achieved an upset victory, winning 4–3. Al Michaels’ “Do you believe in miracles?” call in the closing seconds of the United States’ miraculous victory over the Soviet Union might be more iconic today, but he also provided the perfect bit of foreshadowing as he opened the 1980 Olympic Winter Games ice hockey broadcast. The subject of countless books, documentaries and one major motion picture, the improbable upset in Lake Placid would end up as the most famous hockey game ever played.
This political statement between the game between the USA and the Soviet Union is due to the nature of the relationship between the two countries. The United States government was initially hostile to the Soviet leaders for taking Russia out of World War I and was opposed to a state ideologically based on communism. Thus, leading to The Cold War. This was an ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies that developed after World War II.
The USSR also won all 12 matchups with the United States between the 1960 and 1980 Olympics, outscoring the Americans 117-26. Also worthy of note is the Soviets’ infamous 10-3 blowout exhibition win to close out the 1980 U.S. team’s pre-Olympic tour at Madison Square Garden, just one week before the Olympic Games began.
1st Period: The Soviets take an early lead, but Buzz Schneider ties it. The USSR scores again, then Mark Johnson nets a last-second goal to make it 2–2.
2nd Period: The Soviets go up 3–2 with a goal from Golikov. Jim Craig makes several key saves to keep the U.S. close.
3rd Period: Johnson scores again to tie it 3–3. Moments later, Mike Eruzione scores the game-winner. The U.S. holds off the Soviets for a 4–3 victory.
Newspapers across the U.S. featured front-page headlines the next day, with bold titles such as “U.S. Stuns Soviets in Ice Shocker!” and “Miracle on Ice!”
The win was treated not just as a sports victory but as a triumph of the American spirit, especially amid Cold War tensions. The media enhanced the win for the US in celebration while the Soviet Union Soviet media downplayed the loss, offering minimal analysis and focusing more on the technical aspects rather than the emotional shock it caused.
In the tightly tensioned political game, the USA was able to fend off the Soviets to win it in a historic game that would be celebrated for years to come.
