Frank Thomas

1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team Notable Sports Figures
1980 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team Roster
Pos Name Age Hometown College
D Bill Baker 22 Grand Rapids, Minn. Minnesota
F Neal Broten 19 Roseau, Minn. Minnesota
D Dave Christian 20 Warroad, Minn. North Dakota
F Steve Christoff 21 Richfield, Minn. Boston Univ.
G Jim Craig 22 North Eaton, Mass. Boston Univ.
F Mike Eruzione 25 Winthrop, Mass. Boston Univ.
F John Harrington 22 Virginia, Minn. Minn.-Duluth
G Steve Janaszak 22 White Bear Lake., Minn. Minnesota
F Mark Johnson 21 Madison, Wis. Wisconsin
F Rob McClanahan 21 St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota
D Ken Morrow 22 Flint, Mich. Bowling Green
D Jack O’Callahan 21 Charlestown, Mass. Boston Univ.
F Mark Pavelich 21 Eveleth, Minn. Minn.-Duluth
D Mike Ramsay 18 Minneapolis, Minn. Minnesota
F Buzz Schneider 24 Babbitt, Minn. Minnesota
F Dave Silk 21 Scituate, Mass. Boston Univ.
F Eric Strobel 21 Rochester, Minn. Minnesota
D Bob Suter 22 Madison, Wis. Wisconsin
F Phil Verchota 22 Duluth, Minn. Minnesota
F Mark Wells 21 St. Clair Shores, Mich. Bowling Green
their first two opponents, Japan and The Netherlands,
33-4. The U.S. did not have as easy a time.
The U.S. faced Sweden as their first opponent in the
first round. The Swedish team was heavily favored and
took a 2-1 lead late into the third period. With only 41
seconds remaining in the game, Herb Books pulled
goaltender Jim Craig from the net and added an extra
forward. With just seconds remaining, forward Bill
Baker put a shot passed the Swedish goaltender. The
U.S. held on and skated off with a 2-2 tie.
The next opponent in the first round for the young
American squad was Czechoslovakia. The Czechs were
widely regarded as the only team with any real chance
of beating the Soviet juggernaut. Relishing their role as
the underdog, the U.S. thoroughly dominated the Czech
team by posting a commanding 7-3 victory.
The Americans went on to easily defeat Norway and
Romania and struggled slightly to pull out a come from
behind win against Germany. The U.S. captured Pool A
with a 4-0-1 record and advanced to the medal rounds
and a date with destiny.
Battle Against the Red Army
Friday, February 22, 1980, the United States met the
Soviet Union on the ice in Lake Placid during the medal
round of the Winter Olympics ice hockey competition.
Just fifteen days prior the Soviets devastated the U.S.
team in an exhibition game, winning 11-3. On this date,
bolstered by their own remarkable accomplishments in
the first round and an inspirational speech from coach
Herb Brooks, the American boys were ready to leave the
memory of Madison Square Garden behind and take on
the Red Army.
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Where Are They Now?
Ironically, less than half of the “Miracle On Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic
hockey team pursued careers in hockey. Goaltender Jim Craig became an
advertising salesman. Defensemen Bill Baker is an oral surgeon. Mike
Eruzione works for his alma mater in the alumni office of Boston University.
Several players now work as investment bankers and stockbrokers, while a
handful are coaching hockey at either the professional or high school level.
David Christian, Mike Ramsey, and Neal Broten have played hockey professionally.
Finally, Herb Brooks, the coach of the 1980 team, owns a manufacturing
agency in Minnesota and returned to the Olympics to coach the 2002
Olympic hockey team to a Silver medal.
During the opening minutes of the game, the Soviets
were met by a significantly different team than they were
expecting. The Americans were playing with strength
and emotion previously unseen. However, the Russians
adapted and put the first point on the board at just over
nine minutes into the first period. At the fourteen minute
mark, Buzz Schneider took the puck up the left side and
entered the Soviet zone, releasing a soft shot which surprisingly
beat Vladslav Tretiak. The goal rejuvenated the
U.S. team and fired up the home crowd. The goal did not
affect the Soviets and they responded quickly with a go
ahead goal to make the score 2-1. With seconds remaining
in the first period Mark Johnson took advantage of a
rebound and tied the game at two apiece.
During the first intermission, Soviet coach Viktor
Tikinov was so disappointed with the play of his team
that he made the decision to bench the greatest goaltender
in the world. Vladislav Tretiak would shoulder
the responsibility of his team’s first period performance
and remain out of the game. Perhaps inspired, perhaps
threatened by the removal of their star net minder, the
Soviet team commanded the second period. They took
an early 3-2 lead and dominated shots on goal by a 12-2
margin. If not for the magnificent play of Jim Craig in
the American goal, the game would have been lost.
The U.S. was not disheartened by being down a goal
going into the start of the third period. They had been
down to Sweden and Germany and were able to come
back, so they felt comfortable with the position they were
in. At about eight and a half minutes into the third period,
Mark Johnson once again scored the game equalizer.
Eighty-one seconds later a deflected pass found its way to
the stick of American team captain Mike Eruzione. He
skated to the center of the Soviet zone and snapped a wrist
shot beating Soviet goalie Myshkin to his right. The team,
the crowd, and the entire country erupted into celebration
as for the first time ever this group of college kids took the
lead in a game against the Soviet Union. With nearly ten
minutes remaining in the game the U.S. team relied entirely
on the skills of Jim Craig to protect the lead. The Soviets
poured everything into an effort to score.
The moment finally arrived and the country joined
those in the arena in Lake Placid counting down the seconds
until victory. The final seconds were punctuated by