Trump honors "Miracle on Ice" U.S. Olympic men's hockey team during Congressional Medal Act signing
Washington — President Trump hosted members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team — famous for defeating the Soviet Union in the "Miracle on Ice" — at a bill signing Friday to award congressional medals in the team's honor.
The legislation the president signed Friday awarded all of the players with Congressional Gold Medals to recognize the 45th anniversary of the U.S. victory at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, with the former players standing behind the president in cowboy hats. The bill passed the House and Senate in September.
"We're delighted to be joined today by true legends of American sports history, heroes for the entire nation, the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team," the president said after signing the bill. "This was one of the biggest moments that I've ever seen in sports, and I like sports. These are the men who gave us one of the most storied athletic wins of all time, it's called the miracle on ice, and I guess that's what it was."
The event in the Oval Office featured hockey stars from the gold medal-winning team, including captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig and forward Buzz Schneider. The family of deceased coach Herb Brooks also attended. CBS News was first to report that the 1980 team would be present for the signing. The players gave the president a hat similar to the ones they wore ahead of the 1980 game.
"President Trump will honor the legendary Olympic men's ice hockey team whose 'Miracle on Ice' resulted in a historic and symbolic victory against the Soviet Union," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said ahead of the signing. "This triumph fueled a resurgence of national pride as Americans across the country watched Team USA unexpectedly take home the Gold Medal."
The 1980 game — held in Lake Placid, New York — pitted the U.S. against the Soviet Union, a Cold War archrival and hockey powerhouse that had won gold in the prior four Winter Olympics.
"The Soviets had not lost an Olympic game since 1968, and they were coming off a four-straight gold record, gold medals," the president said Friday.
Team USA, partly made up of former collegiate players, upset the Soviet Union in a come-from-behind 4-3 victory that was immortalized by broadcaster Al Michaels' exclamation: "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" The American squad went on to defeat Finland in the gold medal-clinching game two days later.
The bid to recognize the game's anniversary with congressional medals picked up bipartisan support, including from lawmakers in Minnesota, the home state of many of the players.
"The 'Miracle on Ice' hockey game was an upset that nobody saw coming – but one that showcases the strength and resilience of Americans in the face of adversity," Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota said in a September statement.