President Donald Trump’s recent decision to commemorate the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team during the Congressional Gold Medal Act signing feels like a deftly delivered check on the ice – subtle yet powerful. This gesture honors a legendary squad, a group of young amateurs and college players who achieved one of sports history’s most stunning upsets. By defeating the formidable Soviet team in Lake Placid, these athletes became a beacon of determination for a nation in need of inspiration. As a young child growing up in Wichita, Kansas, I had no understanding of hockey. Yet, as I lay on my grandmother Pauline’s floor, I was captivated by the historic moment unfolding before my eyes, which later kindled my passion for the Detroit Red Wings.

Revisiting that extraordinary day is vital. On February 22, 1980, inside the Olympic Center’s Fieldhouse in upstate New York, coach Herb Brooks led his underdog team against the Soviet Union, a powerhouse that had reigned supreme in international hockey. These weren’t seasoned professionals; they were fresh-faced athletes from places like Eveleth, Minnesota, and Boston University, pitted against an opponent that had recently trounced them 10-3 in an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden.

The Soviets, with four consecutive Olympic golds to their name, made a surprising move by benching their star goalie, Vladislav Tretiak, after a 2-2 tie in the first period. As the Americans entered the third period trailing 3-2, Mark Johnson scored the equalizer midway through, and shortly after, captain Mike Eruzione fired the game-winning goal. Two days later, they clinched the gold by defeating Finland. Al Michaels’ famous words, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” resonated far beyond the ice rink, offering hope to Americans during a period marked by economic struggles, the Iran hostage crisis, and the lingering effects of the Vietnam War.

This victory extended beyond athletic triumph; it was a symbolic win during the tense Cold War era, a time when Soviet influence permeated global politics and economics. The unexpected success of Team USA brought a wave of optimism that would eventually contribute to the national resurgence in the 1980s under Reagan’s leadership.

From that legendary lineup, 19 players went on to careers in the NHL. Mark Johnson, for instance, played alongside former Soviet player Slava Fetisov on the New Jersey Devils and faced him again in the 1995 Stanley Cup Final. Meanwhile, Mike Eruzione chose to retire after Lake Placid, transitioning into broadcasting for NHL and Olympic events and later serving as an assistant coach at Boston University. Sadly, coach Herb Brooks passed away in a car accident in 2003, but his legacy endures. His family, alongside Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, forward Buzz Schneider, and others, gathered at the White House to celebrate this enduring piece of history.

These weren’t pros; they were kids from places like Eveleth, Minnesota, and Boston University, thrown together against a foe that had routed the U.S. 10-3 in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden just two weeks earlier. The Soviets, fresh off four straight Olympic golds, benched their star goalie Vladislav Tretiak after a first-period tie at 2-2. The Americans trailed 3-2 into the third, but Mark Johnson evened it midway through, and captain Mike Eruzione buried the winner less than two minutes later. 

It is an incredible honor for our team to be recognized by the White House today, and to witness today’s Congressional Gold Medal signing. Moments like this remind us how teamwork, resilience, and shared purpose can create a legacy that lasts well beyond the ice. What a moment.🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/JtlecK3z5n

— Jim Craig (@JimCraigUSA) December 12, 2025

Two days on, they dispatched Finland for the gold. Al Michaels’ call — “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” — echoed beyond the arena, giving hope to Americans during a time of stagflation, hostages in Iran, and the shadow of Vietnam. That victory wasn’t just about pucks and sticks. It arrived amid Cold War frost, when Soviet might loomed over everything from grain embargoes to proxy wars. Team USA’s win, improbable as it was, sparked a flicker of defiance that rippled into Reagan’s morning in America.

One of the turning points in USA during my lifetime. Statement on American determination that changed from the morass of the late 70’s to the boom of the 1980’s https://t.co/DTPWl8PPyL

— Clay scott (@scottwestacre) December 12, 2025

Nineteen of those players later skated in the NHL, including Johnson, who teamed up with ex-Soviet Slava Fetisov on the New Jersey Devils before facing him in the 1995 Stanley Cup Final. Eruzione hung up his skates after Lake Placid, moving to the broadcast booth for both NHL and Olympic games and working as an assistant hockey coach at his alma mater, Boston University, for three years. Brooks, the architect, died too soon in a 2003 car crash, but his widow and children joined Eruzione, goalie Jim Craig, forward Buzz Schneider, and others at the White House. 

“Do you believe in miracles?” This is awesome. Well deserved. https://t.co/YNvTp6JY48

— Chrissy’s Pop Culture Corner™️ (@realpopchrissy) December 12, 2025