It was the biggest mistake of my career ” – 45 years of all time play has passed

The white -shirt team splashes the puck out of their area, but time and time again the rubber returns to the same end by the opponent.

8,500 people mumble in the audience. Commentator Al Michaels calculates seconds in the last minute. They are tormented long.

The puck bounces again in the middle area with only three seconds in the game. Then Michaels pronounces iconic words:

– Do you believe in miracles?

And immediately afterwards the man answers his own question:

– YES!

The United States had killed the Soviet Red Machine 4-3.

An all -time game

The Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States was at its coldest when the countries met at the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980.

A little similar anger has been perceived between Canada and the US in 4 Nations tournaments when Donald Trump has set breezes as President of the United States.

The final of the 4 Nations tournament is more than just a slut, but so was the meeting between the US and the Soviet Union 45 years ago.

It is still considered a “all -time slot game” that bears a nickname Miracle on ic.

– Few are the days when someone does not resemble or I don’t think about the event, I played in the US team Phil verchota remembered Iltalehti in 2018.

Sports Illustrated your name in 1999 Miracle is icen For the most amazing sport of all time. 100 events were selected for the list.

2008 The International Ice Hockey Association IIHF selected the same game as the best international hockey match over the last hundred years.

But what Miracle on ic -made the match so special?

“Your Moment”

The Soviet Red Machine won the Olympic gold four times in a row between 1964 and 1976. It was also the biggest winner at the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980.

The United States, on the other hand, was the youngest team in the tournament, which was mainly assembled from university players. Herb Brooksin The boys didn’t have to have any chance Viktor Tihonov against routine professionals in the second final game of the tournament.

However, Brooks believed in his protectors. Before the game, the man had written his thoughts and slogans on the paper to pump his players’ tires before Koito.

– You were born as players. This is your moment! Brooks said in the booth.

He also emphasized his players that the changes had to be kept short. For a maximum of 40 seconds to have enough strength in the third round.

Team physics coach George Nagobads He was tasked with watching the players’ ice time so that there could be feedback on too long changes.

Chef

What happens now?

So many surely thought when Mark Johnson At the end of the opening round 2-2 scored. The game clock showed the readings at 0.00, so the batch had basically ended.

After a little reflection on the Finnish General Judge Karl-Gustav Kaisla However, decided to accept Johnson’s handicap and one second was added to the game clock.

During the hiatus, Tihonov was even more shocked by his players when he decided to pull the star watchdog Vladislav Tretjakin on the bench. Replaced between the posts slipped Vladimir myshkin.

– It was the biggest mistake in my career, Tihonov has said afterwards.

However, the red machine dominated the second installment sovereignly. It won the shots 12-2 and marched for the second hiatus in a 3-2 lead.

“One’s own game”

In the middle of the third round, the United States shook the whole hockey world as it struck twice. The 3-2 lead of the Nevosto League changed to a 3-4 defeat position in just over a minute.

There was still ten minutes left when the red machine started to press on. Still, Brooks wanted his sons to continue his bold attack.

– Play your own game, play your own game, the coach instructed in Aitio.

The United States fired six times in the final round. Two of the wefts slipped behind Myškin’s back. They weren’t hippies, but it can be taken.

At the end of the match, everyone waited for Tihonov to remove the goalkeeper and apply for a handicap with six field players. This did not happen.

– We never play against six five, not even in practice because Tihonov does not believe it works, Sergei Starikov revealed later.

Didn’t work with five against five. The US won 4-3 sensationally, even though the Soviet Union won 39-16.

As the players rushed to the ice to celebrate, Brooks left the dressing room to cry.

“Immemorial”

Miracle on ic -The game has not yet solved the Olympic win for the United States. It was only in the last game of the series -based tournament against Finland.

The Lions started the game powerfully. Finland led after two rounds 2-1 Jukka Porvar and Mikko Leinonen With goals, but in the second break, Brooks got his players awake.

– If you lose this game, you go with it to your grave, Brooks rumbled.

The message arrived, and Verchota hit the 2-2 handicap right from the start of the third round.

– The handicap is probably the most memorable of my career, Verchota told Iltalehti.

Jari Kurri, Esa Peltonen, Kari Eloranta, Timo wolf And the partners fought, but the ecstatic US took the game 4-2. The winning goal struck Rob McClanaha.

Olympic gold was such a big thing that the US president Jimmy Carter called the team a congratulatory call after the game.

13 NHL

Miracle on ic -20 players played in the team. Of these, 13 advanced to the NHL.

The longest grooves in the buckles played Neal Broten (1,099 games), Mike Ramsey (1 070) and Dave Christian (1 009).

For Verchot, the NHL door did not open. He headed to Finland and the Jokers.

– I made more by playing forty matches in Finland than in 80-90 matches in Farm Leagues, Verchota said.

Head coach Brooks became a true genre legend that led the US Olympic silver in 2002 in Salt Lake City. A year later, he tragically died in a car accident at the age of 66.

Brooks, who also coaches in the NHL, is remembered in addition to the merits from one-liners.

– I have always said that coaching is like being a king. It doesn’t make you at all.

Sources: Sports Illustrated, Post BulletinMiracle movie