Miracle on Ice facts for kids

The "Miracle on Ice" was a super exciting ice hockey game that happened during the 1980 Winter Olympics. These Olympic Games took place in Lake Placid, New York, in the United States. It was a special match between the host team, the United States, and the Soviet Union. The Soviet team was incredibly strong; they had won the gold medal in ice hockey at the Olympics four times in a row! Everyone thought they would win again in 1980.

The Teams and Their History

The Soviet Union was like a hockey superpower. They had won the gold medal in five out of the six Winter Olympic Games before 1980. This made them the big favorites to win the gold medal again in Lake Placid. The U.S. team was made up of college players and amateurs. No one expected them to beat the mighty Soviets.

The Big Game

The game between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was part of the medal round. It was a thrilling match from the start.

• At the end of the first period, the score was tied 2–2.
• By the end of the second period, the Soviets were ahead 3–2.
• But in the third and final period, the U.S. team scored two more goals! This gave them their first lead in the game.
• The U.S. team held on tight and won the game 4–3. It was a huge upset!

The Golden Finish

Winning against the Soviet Union was amazing, but the U.S. team still had one more game to play for the gold medal. Two days after their "Miracle" win, the U.S. team played against Finland. They won that game too, which meant they won the gold medal! The Soviet Union ended up winning the silver medal after beating Sweden.

Why It Was So Special

The U.S. team's victory became one of the most famous moments in sports history, especially in the United States. It showed that even underdogs can achieve amazing things. In 1999, a famous sports magazine called Sports Illustrated named the "Miracle on Ice" the best sports moment of the entire 20th century. It was a truly unforgettable event that inspired many people.

Images for kids

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  Herb Brooks Arena (2019)

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  The Soviet team's Vladislav Tretiak (pictured here in 2008) was considered the best goaltender in ice hockey in 1980. The Americans scored two goals against him before he was pulled from the game at the end of the first period.

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  Jim Craig's gear from 1980, at the Hockey Hall of Fame

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  The U.S. team lit the Olympic cauldron at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

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  The Miracle on Ice launched the careers of several players and made broadcaster Al Michaels famous.

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  Former Soviet National team player Helmuts Balderis, pictured in 2014. Balderis played a season late in his career with the Minnesota North Stars of the NHL.

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  Herb Brooks Arena in 2005

See also

In Spanish: Milagro sobre hielo para niños