{"history":[],"article":{"id":"229e3fe6-ad25-4191-8549-08f97fbc15b4","title":"Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics","slug":"ice-hockey-at-the-1980-winter-olympics","content":":::summary\n![ice hockey](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Olympics///rings///%281913-1986%29.svg)\n**Tourney Name:** Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics \n**Country:** United States \n**Dates:** February 12–24, 1980 \n**Num Teams:** 12 \n**Venues:** [Olympic Fieldhouse](https://bliptext.com/articles/herb-brooks-arena), Olympic Arena [Lake Placid, New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-placid-new-york) \n**Type:** ih \n**Winners:** United States \n**Count:** 2 \n**Second:** Soviet Union \n**Second -flagvar:** 1955 \n**Third:** Sweden \n**Fourth:** Finland \n**Games:** 35 \n**Goals:** 308 \n**Scoring Leader:** [Milan Nový](https://bliptext.com/articles/milan-nov) \n**Points:** 15 \n**Prevseason:** [1976](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-at-the-1976-winter-olympics) \n**Nextseason:** [1984](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-at-the-1984-winter-olympics) \n:::\n\n# \nThe men's **[ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey)** tournament at the **[1980 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-winter-olympics)** in [Lake Placid](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-placid-new-york), [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states), was the 14th [Olympic Championship](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-at-the-olympic-games).\nTwelve teams competed in the tournament, which was held from February 12 to 24, 1980.\nThe [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) won its second gold medal, including a win over the heavily favored [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-ice-hockey-team) that became known as the \"Miracle on Ice\".\nGames were held at the [Olympic Fieldhouse](https://bliptext.com/articles/herb-brooks-arena) (8,000) and the Olympic Arena (2,500).\n\n# Format\nThe IIHF ceased running a World championship in Olympic years.\nNations that did not participate in the Lake Placid Olympics were invited to compete in the [inaugural](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-thayer-tutt-trophy) [Thayer Tutt Trophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/thayer-tutt-trophy) in [Ljubljana](https://bliptext.com/articles/ljubljana), [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia).\nGoing into the games, the teams were ranked and divided into two groups.\nTeams were ranked based on performance during the 1979 World Ice Hockey Championships.\nIncluded were the eight teams in the 1979 top Championship Division (Pool \"A\") as well as the top four teams in the 1979, second-tier, \"B\" Pool tournament.\nWhile Poland finished 8th place in Pool A, the Netherlands, winners of Pool B, were ranked 8th while Poland was ranked 9th going into the Olympics.\nThe total ranking was: Soviet Union (1), Czechoslovakia (2), Sweden (3), Canada (4), Finland (5), West Germany (6), United States (7), Netherlands (8), Poland (9), Romania (10), Norway (11), Japan (12).\nEast Germany was originally ranked tenth, but declined to participate, with Japan filling their spot.\n\n# Overview\nThe Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid.\nThe team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience in international play.\nBy contrast, the United States' team—led by head coach [Herb Brooks](https://bliptext.com/articles/herb-brooks)—consisted exclusively of [amateur](https://bliptext.com/articles/amateur) players, and was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history.\nIn the group stage, both the Soviet and U.S. teams were unbeaten; the U.S. achieved several notable results, including a 2–2 draw against Sweden, and a 7–3 upset victory over second-place favorites [Czechoslovakia](https://bliptext.com/articles/czechoslovakia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team).\nFor the first game in the medal round, the United States played the Soviets.\nFinishing the first period tied at 2–2, and the Soviets leading 3–2 following the second, the U.S. team scored two more goals to take their first lead during the third and final period, winning the game 4–3.\nFollowing the game, the U.S. went on to clinch the gold medal by beating [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) in their last game.\nThe Soviet Union took the silver medal by beating [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team).\nThe victory became one of the most iconic moments of the Games and in U.S. sports.\nEqually well-known was the television call of the final seconds of the game by [Al Michaels](https://bliptext.com/articles/al-michaels) for [ABC](https://bliptext.com/articles/olympics-on-abc), in which he declared: \"Do you believe in miracles?! YES!\"\nIn 1999, [Sports Illustrated](https://bliptext.com/articles/sports-illustrated) named the \"[Miracle on Ice](https://bliptext.com/articles/miracle-on-ice)\" the top sports moment of the 20th century.\nAs part of its centennial celebration in 2008, the [International Ice Hockey Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-ice-hockey-federation) (IIHF) named the \"Miracle on Ice\" as the best international ice hockey story of the past 100 years.\n# [United States vs. Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/USA///-///Soviet///Union///1980///match.jpg]\n\n# Medalists\n# [A postage stamp issued by the Soviet Post Office for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. The Soviet Union had won the previous four Olympic ice hockey tournaments between 1964 and 1976. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/CPA///1980///5035.jpg]\n\n# First round\n\n## Blue Division\n

\nAll times are local ([UTC–5](https://bliptext.com/articles/utc-05-00)).\n

\n\n## Red Division\n

\nAll times are local ([UTC–5](https://bliptext.com/articles/utc-05-00)).\n

\n# [Canada vs the Netherlands | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Ice///Hockey///Match%2C///Lake///Placid///1980.jpg]\n\n# Consolation round\nThe third-placed teams in each division played each other to determine fifth place.\n\n# Final round\n

The top two teams from each group play the top two teams from the other group once.\nPoints from previous games against their own group carry over, excluding teams who failed to make the medal round.\nFirst place team wins gold, second silver, and third bronze.\nHead-to-head results carried forward from group matches:\nFinal round matches:\n

\n\n# Statistics\n\n## Average age\nTeam Japan was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 30 years.\nGold medalists team USA was the youngest team in the tournament, averaging 22 years and 5 months.\nSilver medalists team USSR averaged 26 years and 5 months.\nTournament average was 25 years and 5 months.\n\n## Leading scorers\n**[Hat trick](https://bliptext.com/articles/hat-trick) scorers**\n\n## Leading goaltenders\nGoaltenders with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.\n**[Shutouts](https://bliptext.com/articles/shutout-ice-hockey)**\n\n# Final ranking\nThese standings are presented as the IIHF has them; however, the IOC maintains that Poland and Romania tied for 7th, the Netherlands and West Germany tied for 9th, and Norway and Japan tied for 11th.\n# [Team USA jersey worn by Dave Christian during the 1980 Winter Olympics | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/DaveChristian.jpg]","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T21:20:06.838Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T21:20:06.838Z","search_vector":"'1980':5 'hockey':2 'ice':1 'olymp':7 'winter':6","search_content":" \n \n**Tourney Name:** Ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics \n**Country:** United States \n**Dates:** February 12–24, 1980 \n**Num Teams:** 12 \n**Venues:** [Olympic Fieldhouse](https://bliptext.com/articles/herb-brooks-arena), Olympic Arena [Lake Placid, New York](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-placid-new-york) \n**Type:** ih \n**Winners:** United States \n**Count:** 2 \n**Second:** Soviet Union \n**Second -flagvar:** 1955 \n**Third:** Sweden \n**Fourth:** Finland \n**Games:** 35 \n**Goals:** 308 \n**Scoring Leader:** [Milan Nový](https://bliptext.com/articles/milan-nov) \n**Points:** 15 \n**Prevseason:** [1976](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-at-the-1976-winter-olympics) \n**Nextseason:** [1984](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-at-the-1984-winter-olympics) \n \n\n# \nThe men's **[ice hockey](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey)** tournament at the **[1980 Winter Olympics](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-winter-olympics)** in [Lake Placid](https://bliptext.com/articles/lake-placid-new-york), [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states), was the 14th [Olympic Championship](https://bliptext.com/articles/ice-hockey-at-the-olympic-games).\nTwelve teams competed in the tournament, which was held from February 12 to 24, 1980.\nThe [United States](https://bliptext.com/articles/united-states-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) won its second gold medal, including a win over the heavily favored [Soviet Union](https://bliptext.com/articles/soviet-union-national-ice-hockey-team) that became known as the \"Miracle on Ice\".\nGames were held at the [Olympic Fieldhouse](https://bliptext.com/articles/herb-brooks-arena) (8,000) and the Olympic Arena (2,500).\n\n# Format\nThe IIHF ceased running a World championship in Olympic years.\nNations that did not participate in the Lake Placid Olympics were invited to compete in the [inaugural](https://bliptext.com/articles/1980-thayer-tutt-trophy) [Thayer Tutt Trophy](https://bliptext.com/articles/thayer-tutt-trophy) in [Ljubljana](https://bliptext.com/articles/ljubljana), [Yugoslavia](https://bliptext.com/articles/socialist-federal-republic-of-yugoslavia).\nGoing into the games, the teams were ranked and divided into two groups.\nTeams were ranked based on performance during the 1979 World Ice Hockey Championships.\nIncluded were the eight teams in the 1979 top Championship Division (Pool \"A\") as well as the top four teams in the 1979, second-tier, \"B\" Pool tournament.\nWhile Poland finished 8th place in Pool A, the Netherlands, winners of Pool B, were ranked 8th while Poland was ranked 9th going into the Olympics.\nThe total ranking was: Soviet Union (1), Czechoslovakia (2), Sweden (3), Canada (4), Finland (5), West Germany (6), United States (7), Netherlands (8), Poland (9), Romania (10), Norway (11), Japan (12).\nEast Germany was originally ranked tenth, but declined to participate, with Japan filling their spot.\n\n# Overview\nThe Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid.\nThe team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience in international play.\nBy contrast, the United States' team—led by head coach [Herb Brooks](https://bliptext.com/articles/herb-brooks)—consisted exclusively of [amateur](https://bliptext.com/articles/amateur) players, and was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history.\nIn the group stage, both the Soviet and U.S. teams were unbeaten; the U.S. achieved several notable results, including a 2–2 draw against Sweden, and a 7–3 upset victory over second-place favorites [Czechoslovakia](https://bliptext.com/articles/czechoslovakia-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team).\nFor the first game in the medal round, the United States played the Soviets.\nFinishing the first period tied at 2–2, and the Soviets leading 3–2 following the second, the U.S. team scored two more goals to take their first lead during the third and final period, winning the game 4–3.\nFollowing the game, the U.S. went on to clinch the gold medal by beating [Finland](https://bliptext.com/articles/finland-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team) in their last game.\nThe Soviet Union took the silver medal by beating [Sweden](https://bliptext.com/articles/sweden-men-s-national-ice-hockey-team).\nThe victory became one of the most iconic moments of the Games and in U.S. sports.\nEqually well-known was the television call of the final seconds of the game by [Al Michaels](https://bliptext.com/articles/al-michaels) for [ABC](https://bliptext.com/articles/olympics-on-abc), in which he declared: \"Do you believe in miracles?! YES!\"\nIn 1999, [Sports Illustrated](https://bliptext.com/articles/sports-illustrated) named the \"[Miracle on Ice](https://bliptext.com/articles/miracle-on-ice)\" the top sports moment of the 20th century.\nAs part of its centennial celebration in 2008, the [International Ice Hockey Federation](https://bliptext.com/articles/international-ice-hockey-federation) (IIHF) named the \"Miracle on Ice\" as the best international ice hockey story of the past 100 years.\n# [United States vs. Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/USA///-///Soviet///Union///1980///match.jpg]\n\n# Medalists\n# [A postage stamp issued by the Soviet Post Office for the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games. The Soviet Union had won the previous four Olympic ice hockey tournaments between 1964 and 1976. | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/CPA///1980///5035.jpg]\n\n# First round\n\n## Blue Division\n \nAll times are local ([UTC–5](https://bliptext.com/articles/utc-05-00)).\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n## Red Division\n \nAll times are local ([UTC–5](https://bliptext.com/articles/utc-05-00)).\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n# [Canada vs the Netherlands | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Ice///Hockey///Match%2C///Lake///Placid///1980.jpg]\n\n# Consolation round\nThe third-placed teams in each division played each other to determine fifth place.\n\n# Final round\n The top two teams from each group play the top two teams from the other group once.\nPoints from previous games against their own group carry over, excluding teams who failed to make the medal round.\nFirst place team wins gold, second silver, and third bronze.\nHead-to-head results carried forward from group matches:\nFinal round matches:\n \n \n \n \n\n# Statistics\n\n## Average age\nTeam Japan was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 30 years.\nGold medalists team USA was the youngest team in the tournament, averaging 22 years and 5 months.\nSilver medalists team USSR averaged 26 years and 5 months.\nTournament average was 25 years and 5 months.\n\n## Leading scorers\n**[Hat trick](https://bliptext.com/articles/hat-trick) scorers**\n\n## Leading goaltenders\nGoaltenders with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.\n**[Shutouts](https://bliptext.com/articles/shutout-ice-hockey)**\n\n# Final ranking\nThese standings are presented as the IIHF has them; however, the IOC maintains that Poland and Romania tied for 7th, the Netherlands and West Germany tied for 9th, and Norway and Japan tied for 11th.\n# [Team USA jersey worn by Dave Christian during the 1980 Winter Olympics | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/DaveChristian.jpg]","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

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