President Donald Trump on Friday paid tribute to members of the U.S. men’s ice hockey team that famously defeated the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics, an event immortalized as the “Miracle on Ice.”
Trump hosted 13 gold medal-winning players in the Oval Office, including captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, and forward Buzz Schneider, and signed a bill awarding them congressional medals. All attendees wore white cowboy hats, a nod to the Olympic opening ceremony, and Trump briefly donned one himself.
“This was one of the biggest moments that I’ve ever seen in sports … These are the men that gave us one of the most storied athletic wins of all time,” Trump said.
Ken Morrow, one of the players, reminded Trump that the famous “USA! USA!” chant, now common at Trump rallies, originated at Lake Placid. “That’s right! I tried to take credit for that,” Trump responded. Captain Eruzione reflected on the team’s achievement, noting that players take pride not only in defeating the Soviets but also in securing the gold by winning against Finland.
The US college players’ 4–3 semifinal victory over the Soviets ended the Soviet team’s four-time Olympic championship streak and captured the nation’s imagination amid Cold War tensions. The American team went on to defeat Finland in the final and was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.
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