Reliving the "Miracle" 35 Years Later

Surviving Members 1980 Men's Ice Hockey Team (c) Alan Key

By Alan Key

Lake Placid, N.Y-  In February, 1980 the Soviet National team declined a request to delay its highly anticipated semifinal medal round Olympics match against the United States Hockey team to prime time in the U.S. to accommodate television coverage.

The result: The game was tape-delayed on ABC. Only audiences in Canada and small Northeast markets along with those in attendance saw the game live.

Fast forward 35 years.

Yogi Berra "once quipped "It's deja vu all over again," and so it is. Due to International Olympic Committee regulations and fees regarding Olympics-related content, the long awaited return of American ice hockey's "golden" boys to Lake Placid would not be broadcast anywhere.


Coming back at last

More than 5,000 fans crammed into the beloved "barn" known as Herb Brooks arena this past weekend to catch a glimpse of history.

Patti and Bob Gould (c) Alan Key

Patti Gould and her husband Paul returned for the first time since Patti worked for Pinkerton Security during the 13th Winter Olympics.

"We were not at the game, I was working," Gould said, "But we found out the weekend before this one (Feb. 14, 1980) I was going to have a baby...sort of our own miracle."

"Why now?" was the biggest question on the mind of those attending the news conference early Saturday afternoon? Mike Eruzione, captain of the gold medal winning team, summed it up with five words.

"No one ever asked us," Eruzione said, which drew a chuckle from inside the media circle.

Dave Silk, USA hockey right winger, gave a more inclusive answer.

"I think it's exceedingly tough to get 20 guys schedules all to match up," Silk said before clearing his throat, "I think the passing of Bobby(Suter) galvanized us to get together."

U-S-A! U-S-A!

The night began with thunderous roars of U-S-A! U-S-A! The lights dimmed and 11-time Emmy winning broadcaster for the Phoenix Coyotes Todd Walsh spoke of how he has waited for this moment since he was sixteen years old watching the game in his living room in Rochester, NY, before introducing surviving members of the "Miracle on Ice" team.

Throughout the evening video montages and personal anecdotes told the story of how defeating the Soviet team came to fruition. There were tears of both joy and sadness as one by one each player recounted his recollection from February 22, 1980.

One theme resonated as the microphone passed hand to hand.

"People remember where they were for the  Kennedy assassination, the Challenger explosion, and 9/11," Eruzione said, "but people come up to us and say I remember when and it's and positive."

For the first time the team collectively watched the final seconds tick off to the 4-3 victory before hearing the immortal words of Al Michaels "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

Somber salute

It was a somber moment because for all the excitement, the group of greying men knew they were not whole. On Sept. 14,2014, Mark Johnson, who played center, received a call that Bob Suter had died of heart failure.

Bob Suter Jersey Ceremony (c) Alan Key

Following a short highlight video, Suter's jersey was raised to the rafters where it will hang for future generations to admire.

The silent crowd was asked once more to roar the chant U-S-A! as a final salute to Suter, before closing out the night with the singing of the national anthem.

The near-capacity crowd left the arena swiftly, leaving only the ghosts of Olympics past to roam the hallowed halls.