The "Miracle on Ice" was an unexpected victory by the United States men's ice hockey team over the heavily favored Soviet Union during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The game, played on February 22, 1980, saw the underdog U.S. team defeat the four-time defending gold medalists by a score of 4-3. This monumental upset is considered one of the greatest moments in American sports history.
1960: Soviet Union Wins Bronze in Ice Hockey at Squaw Valley
The Soviet Union's last medal before their gold medal streak was a bronze medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.
1964: Soviet Union Begins Olympic Gold Medal Streak
The Soviet Union's dominance in Olympic hockey began in 1964 when they won the first of their four consecutive gold medals.
1967: Brooks and Patrick Play Together on the U.S. National Team
Herb Brooks and Craig Patrick, who would later lead the "Miracle on Ice" team as head coach and assistant coach, respectively, were teammates on the 1967 U.S. national team.
1968: Soviet Union's Last Olympic Loss
The Soviet Union's undefeated streak in Olympic hockey began after their last loss in 1968.
1972: Canada Withdraws from the Olympics in Protest
Canada withdrew from the 1972 Olympics in protest of the Soviet Union's use of full-time athletes, which they believed contradicted the amateur spirit of the Games.
1976: Canada Again Withdraws from the Olympics
Canada again withdrew from the 1976 Olympics, maintaining their protest against the use of full-time athletes by the Soviet Union.
September 1979: U.S. Hockey Team Begins Exhibition Play
The U.S. hockey team embarked on a series of exhibition games in September 1979, five months before the start of the Olympics.
December 1979: Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, escalating Cold War tensions.
1979: Soviet Club Teams Excel Against NHL Teams
In 1979, Soviet club teams demonstrated their strength on the ice by winning the majority of their exhibition games against National Hockey League (NHL) teams.
1979: U.S. Hockey Team Tryouts Held
U.S. head coach Herb Brooks held tryouts for the 1980 Olympic hockey team in Colorado Springs in the summer of 1979.
1979: Brooks Coaches U.S. Team in World Championship
Herb Brooks, the coach of the "Miracle on Ice" team, had previously coached the U.S. team in the 1979 World Championship tournament.
1979: ESPN Founded
ESPN, which would go on to recognize the "Miracle on Ice" as a top sports moment, was founded in 1979.
February 22, 1980: "Miracle on Ice" Game
On February 22, 1980, the underdog U.S. men's hockey team defeated the heavily favored four-time defending gold medalist Soviet Union in a stunning upset during the medal round of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
March 3, 1980: Sports Illustrated Features U.S. Hockey Team Victory
The March 3, 1980 issue of Sports Illustrated featured a now-iconic cover photo of the American players celebrating their victory without any captions, reflecting the widespread recognition of the event.
1980: U.S. Considers and Then Declares Boycott of Moscow Olympics
In protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter considered and ultimately led a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Russia.
1980: Rise of U.S.-Born Professional Hockey Players
The number of American-born players in professional hockey, particularly in the NHL, increased throughout the 1970s and continued into the 1980s.
1980: Olympic Medal Round Format
Unlike the single-elimination format used in modern Olympics, the 1980 Olympic hockey medal round used a round-robin format, meaning each team played against every other team in the group.
1980: The U.S. Sends its Youngest Olympic Hockey Team Ever
With an average age of 21, the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team was the youngest in the country's history to compete in the Games.
1981: "Miracle on Ice" TV Movie Release
"Miracle on Ice," a made-for-TV movie about the U.S. hockey team's victory, aired on ABC television in 1981. The film starred Karl Malden, Steve Guttenberg, and Andrew Stevens and incorporated actual game footage and original commentary from the 1980 Winter Games.
1981: USA vs. USSR at the Canada Cup
At the 1981 Canada Cup, the United States, with seven players from their 1980 Olympic team, faced the Soviet Union. The Soviets won the opening round encounter 4-1 in Edmonton.
1982: USA vs. USSR at the World Championship
At the 1982 World Championship in Finland, the United States, with players like Mike Ramsey, Mark Johnson, Buzz Schneider, and John Harrington, once again met the Soviets, but the U.S. lost, 8-4.
1985: USSR's First World Championship Loss
The Soviet Union's dominance in international hockey continued until 1985 when they lost their first World Championship game.
1988: Rematch at the 1988 Winter Olympics
The U.S. and the Soviet Union faced each other again in the 1988 Winter Olympics. The Soviets, fielding their experienced veterans, defeated the American team, composed of college players, with a score of 7-5, and went on to win the gold medal.
1989: Soviet Players Join the NHL
In the 1989-90 season, Soviet authorities allowed six more 1980 Olympians to join NHL clubs, but only after they competed in their final World Championship, where they secured a gold medal.
1991: Dissolution of the USSR and USA's First Victory Against the Successor Team
The USSR was dissolved in 1991, marking the end of an era in international hockey. The Soviet team was succeeded by the Unified Team. The same year, for the first time since the "Miracle on Ice," the United States defeated the Soviet Union's successor team.
1992: USA vs. Unified Team at the 1992 Olympics
In 1992, at the Winter Olympics, the United States and the Unified Team, composed mostly of veteran players from the Soviet domestic league, clashed in a semi-final match. The Unified Team emerged victorious with a score of 5-2 and eventually won the gold medal, while the U.S. finished fourth.
1995: Fetisov and Ramsey Face Off in Stanley Cup Finals
In 1995, Viacheslav Fetisov, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, faced off against Mike Ramsey and the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Devils emerged victorious.
1997: Fetisov's First Stanley Cup Victory
Viacheslav Fetisov achieved a significant milestone in his career by winning the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997.
1998: Fetisov's Second Stanley Cup Victory
Viacheslav Fetisov secured his second Stanley Cup victory with the Detroit Red Wings in 1998, solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's greats.
1999: Sports Illustrated Names "Miracle on Ice" Top Sports Moment of the 20th Century
In 1999, Sports Illustrated recognized the significance of the "Miracle on Ice" by naming it the top sports moment of the 20th century.
2001: "Do You Believe in Miracles?" Documentary Premiere
The documentary "Do You Believe in Miracles?," narrated by Liev Schreiber, premiered on HBO in 2001 and was later released on home video.
2002: USA vs. Russia at the 2002 Winter Olympics
The U.S. and Russia met twice at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. They first tied 2-2 in a round-robin match. The Americans then defeated the Russians 3-2 in the semi-finals, played exactly 22 years after the "Miracle on Ice." The U.S. went on to win silver, while Russia took bronze.
2004: ESPN Names "Miracle on Ice" Top Sports Moment and Game
In 2004, as part of its 25th-anniversary celebration, ESPN recognized the enduring legacy of the "Miracle on Ice" by naming it the top sports headline moment and game from 1979 to 2004.
2004: "Miracle" Movie Release
Walt Disney Pictures released "Miracle," a film directed by Gavin O'Connor and starring Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks, in 2004. Al Michaels reprised his commentary role for most of the games, with the final ten seconds and his iconic "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" call taken from the original broadcast. The film was dedicated to Brooks, who passed away after filming was completed.
2008: IIHF Names "Miracle on Ice" Top International Ice Hockey Story of the Past 100 Years
As part of its centennial celebration in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) recognized the "Miracle on Ice" as the top international ice hockey story of the previous century.
2014: "Marathon on Ice" at the 2014 Winter Olympics
The U.S. and Russia played a thrilling game at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. After a 2-2 tie in overtime, the Americans triumphed in an eight-round shootout. T.J. Oshie scored 4 out of 6 attempts for the U.S., leading them to victory in what was dubbed the "Marathon on Ice" due to its length. Neither team won a medal in the tournament.
2015: "Of Miracles And Men" Documentary Premiere
"Of Miracles And Men," a documentary directed by Jonathan Hock, premiered on ESPN in 2015 as part of the network's acclaimed "30 for 30" series. This film offered a unique perspective by recounting the story of the 1980 game from the Soviet point of view.