Most sport fans know about the “Miracle on Ice,” the USA hockey gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics. On the telecast of the upset of the Soviet Union, Al Michaels voiced the unforgettable line “Do you believe in miracles...YES!”
Fewer know about a similar triumph two decades earlier. The USA won a gold medal in hockey at the 1960 Olympics, and it was also unexpected, dubbed “The Other Miracle.”
The USA was the fifth rated team entering the 1960 Olympics behind the Soviet Union, Canada, Sweden and Czechoslovakia. Prior to competition, the best case scenario seemed to be a bronze behind the Soviet Union and Canada.
The Olympics began with round robin play in three 3-teams groups, the first two in each group advancing to the final round. The USA won its two games, defeating Czechoslovakia 7-5 and Australia 12-2. The Czechs also advanced with an 18-1 win over Australia.
The other teams advancing were Canada, the Soviet Union, Sweden and Germany.
The final round also had round robin play, two points for a win, one for a tie. Medals were determined by the final standing. Unlike 1980, there was no gold medal game.
The USA began with a 6-3 win over Sweden, followed by a 9-1 victory over Germany. Then came a 2-1 win over Canada that also entered the game with a 2-0 record.
The 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley in California was the first Olympic games, Summer or Winter, televised live in the United States. Much of the nation was glued to their black and white TVs on the final Saturday of the Olympics when the USA played the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.
The Red, White and Blue trailed 2-1 after one period, but rallied with one goal each in the second and third periods for a 3-2 victory.
That did not ensure the gold medal. There was one more game the next morning against Czechoslovakia. A loss and the USA and Canada would both be 4-1, but Canada would have won the gold by virtue of a better goal differential.
It is understandable that the Americans struggled through the first two periods less than 24 hours after the emotional win over the Soviet Union. The USA trailed 4-3, but came alive in the final 20 minutes with six goals for a 9-4 victory.
Canada won silver and the U.S. victory over Czechoslovakia gave the Soviet Union the bronze. The Soviets were 2-2-1 for five points with a loss to Canada and a tie against Sweden. Czechoslovakia was fourth with a 2-3 record, but would have won the bronze with a victory over the Americans.
There were other similarities between the two medals. Also in 1980, the victory over the Soviet Union did not mean gold. It was the semifinals. Two days later, the Americans beat Finland 4-2 for the gold.
The 1980 Olympics was also held in the United States at Lake Placid, New York. Bill Christian was a member of the 1960 team. His son David played for the 1980 teams. Herb Brooks was the last player cut in 1960 tryouts. He coached the 1980 team.
Both teams were largely comprised of players from two states, Minnesota and Massachusetts. Of the 20 players on the 1960 roster, nine were from Minnesota and eight from Massachusetts. In 1980, it was 12 from Minnesota and four from Massachusetts.
With the exception of the football quarterback, the hockey goalie is the most important player in any team sport. An underdog cannot win without outstanding goaltending.
The USA had it with Jack McCartan in 1960 and Jim Craig in 1980.
