The Miracle on ice, probably one of the biggest upsets of all time and was something that also helped render the spirits of Americans as the country was going though hard times. The United States Olympic Ice Hockey team from 1980 was not only a huge underdog going into the competition but they were also not only up against the best teams in from other countries, they would have to play the Soviet Union who was the best team in the world.
The Soviets had not lost a game in the Olympics since 1968 and had won, and had not lost the gold medal since 1960. They had won 21 Olympic match-ups going into the game against the United States.(Jones 1) Before the Olympic tournament started the Soviets had scrimmages with the United States and the NHL All-stars. First the Soviets shutout the NHL All-stars by a score of 6-0 then went on to destroy the young feeble American team that was hand picked by head coach Herb Brooks by a score of 10-3. So going into the Olympic Tournament the USA was the seventh seed out of twelve teams, so winning was unthinkable(2).
It was now time for these 24 young college men to show what they were made of against worldwide competition.(ESPN 1) The first they were up against was Sweden where the USA found themselves just seconds away from being eliminated when a goal coming late in the third period managed a tie for the USA and they advanced to the next round.(Carlton 2) Next they went up against Czechoslovakia whom was heavily favored opponent and the USA toppled them 7-3 (3). " Years after the Olympics, Peter Stastny, a member of the 1980 Czechoslovakia team that had lost 7-3, cornered Captain Mike Eruzione. .
"In 1980 you fooled us," Stastny said. "We did not know how good you were. We took you for granted." (Carlton 3) Norway was their third opponent and was ahead 1-0 after the first period but USA goaltender Jim Craig was on top of his game and shut them out the next two .