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Herb Brooks is Named Head Coach of the US Hockey Team
Herb Brooks is named head coach of the U.S. Men's National Hockey Team for the upcoming 1980 Winter Olympic Games even though he was cut from the 1960 men's team in the final round of cuts.
Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Brooks
Photo: http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/herb-brooks-4826.php -
U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team Tryouts Begin
Tryouts for the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team were held on June 15, 1979. 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. Over 100 players from all over the country tried out.
Reference: https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/page/show/831562-the-1980-u-s-olympic-team
Photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0nZh9o65nE&ab_channel=Iceehockey21 -
Practices Begin
On June 25th, 1979, the U.S. 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 pushing them harder. "Prepare to grow through Pain." -Herb Brooks.
Reference: "Miracle on Ice" Movie
Photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr0OooSxJDU&ab_channel=kerint318 -
The Exhibition Games
In September of 1979, the exhibition games began. 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 exhibition game. Russia displayed their might causing the U.S. to lose 10-3 making the U.S. an underdog going into the games as the 7th seed.
Photo and Reference: https://history.vintagemnhockey.com/page/show/1166356-1980-pre-olympic-tour-schedule-results -
The Final Team Has Been 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
Photo and Reference:
https://history.vintagemnhockey.com/page/show/1166356-1980-pre-olympic-tour-schedule-results -
The Last Exhibition Game
The U.S.'s last exhibition game before the Olympics was a matchup against the USSR. The USSR beat the U.S. 10-3 in a blowout game. This game was believed to have made the USSR team underestimate the young USA team later in the Olympics.
Photo: http://hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononeTmSovUnion81.shtml
Reference: https://history.vintagemnhockey.com/page/show/1166356-1980-pre-olympic-tour-schedule-results -
Game 1: USA vs Sweden
Bill Baker (Grand Rapids, Minn.) scored with 27 seconds left to help the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team tie Sweden, 2-2, in the opening contest of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 12.
"This team isn't talented enough to win on talent alone."
-Herb Brooks Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
The 1980 Winter Olympic Games 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. Artificial snow was first introduced. 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.
Reference: https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/lake-placid-1980
Photo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTW6jH3sk1k&ab_channel=JC4PCP -
Game 2: USA vs Czechoslovakia
Bill “Buzz” Schneider (Babbitt, Minn.) scored twice and collected an assist as the U.S. defeated Czechoslovakia, 7-3, for their first win of the 1980 Olympic Games.
“I had a gut feeling yesterday at practice,” said head coach Herb Brooks (St. Paul, Minn.). “We really played well at practice, and I think our players realized we had to use our youthfulness as an asset instead of a liability.” Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
Game 3: USA vs Norway
The U.S. scored five unanswered goals on the way to a 5-1 victory over Norway in its third Olympic contest. Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
Game 4: USA vs Romania
Bill “Buzz” Schneider (Babbitt, Minn.) used another multi-goal game to help lead the U.S. to a 7-2 victory over Romania in the fourth game of the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
Game 5: USA vs West Germany
The U.S. scored four unanswered goals to come from behind and defeat West Germany, 4-2, to round out group play with a 3-0-1 record. The U.S. will face the Soviet Union in the first game of the medal round on Feb. 22. Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
Game 6: USA vs USSR
"Do you believe in miracles? YES!" In what is known as the largest upset in Olympic ice hockey history, the U.S. defeated the four-time defending gold medalist and heavily favored the Soviet Union, 4-3, in the first of two medal round games. The U.S. will face Finland on February 24 for a chance to win the country’s second ice hockey gold medal (1960). Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
Game 7 (Gold Medal Game): USA vs Finland
The U.S. scored three goals in the third period to come from behind and defeat Finland, 4-2, capturing gold at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games and capping a miraculous run. The gold medal is the second in the sport in the country’s history, joining the 1960 team that won gold in Squaw Valley, Calif. Photo and Reference: https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/1086152 -
The 1980 Winter Olympic Games Closing Ceremony
The 1980 Winter Olympic Games come to a close with the U.S. coming in third place in the medal count with a total of 12 medals. 6 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze, and one of the greatest moments in sports and history with the miracle on ice win against the unbeatable USSR hockey team. Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Winter_Olympics#Medal_count Photo: https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/human-interest/2020/02/14/1980-lake-placid-olympics-still-resonate-four-decades-later -
Sports Illustrated Coverage
With no caption or headlines, Sports Illustrated published an article saying, "At a time when international tensions and domestic frustrations had dampened traditional American optimism, the underdog U.S. Olympic hockey team gave the entire nation a lift by defeating the world's top team, the Soviets, and ultimately winning the gold medal. Those youngsters did so by means of the old-fashioned American work ethic, which some people feared was disappearing from the land."
Photo & Reference: si.com