The Men behind the miracle
The U.S Hockey Team was a team compromised of amateur College hockey players The average age of the team was 21 years old (youngest in the Olympics).
Going into the olympics there was not much hope for this U.S team and not much pride in the red, white, and blue. The players on this team where random college kids from places like Bowling Green, Michigan and Grand Rapids, Minnesota who were playing against the four time world champion Soviets who were defending their title. The people felt powerless to the Soviets and the U.S couldn't beat them in any arena, one of those downfalls being when the U.S lost to the Soviets in a controversial basketball game in the 1972 olympics. The U.S needed a win to show their superiority and power to the Soviets.
On February 22nd the time came for the U.S to play the Soviets. Lead by Buzz Schneider, John Harrington, and Mark Pavelich (the teams leader scorers with 17 goals each), the U.S was ready to upset the Soviets and get to the championship game. Schneider, Harrington, and Pavelich were the U.S's most lethal line and put them first on the boards with Pavelich feeding Schneider who hit it to the top right corner. The Soviets tied it three minutes later only to have Mark Johnson send the Americans up one with a half court heave with seconds to go in the period. After the first period the Soviets outshot the Americans 30 to 10 eventually netting two more goals putting them up 3-2, until Mark Johnson had his second goal of the game and tied it at 3-3 in the third and final period. With a little more than ten minutes left in the game the U.S scored the fourth and final goal of the game where Mark Pavelich floated the puck to team captain Mike Eruzione where he fired home "the shot heard round the world."
The U.S was going crazy after this colossal win. This win restored pride into the country, it made the people proud to be American and made them want to raise the American flag and wave it around, and sing the national anthem. This win also showed another way in which the U.S were superior to the Soviets, it was a statement that the U.S can beat the Soviet's best without using the best of their own. |
U.S Team Roster
G Jim Craig G Steve Janaszak D Bill Baker D Dave Christian D Ken Morrow D Jack O'Callahan D Mike Ramsey D Bob Suter F Neal Broten F Steve Christoff F Mike Eruzione, Captain F John Harrington F Mark Johnson F Rob McClanahan F Mark Pavelich F Buzz Schneider F Dave Silk F Eric Strobel F Phil Verchota F Mark Wells (G - Goalie) (D - Defender) (F - Forward) |
Where are they now?
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Final minute of the miracle |