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Herb Brooks, coach of the United States men's hockey team, at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Source: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112018/ (May be subject to copyright) |
His legend grows by the decade. He was the man who took a group of feuding college hockey players and moulded them into champions. In the process, they took down one of the fiercest hockey teams in Olympic history.
Not one but two great movies have been made about that 1980 US Olympic hockey team that shocked the world and won gold on home ice at Lake Placid, New York in 1980.
Herb Brooks was the coach of that team. With his birthday yesterday, I was reminded as much of that amazing run by the Americans as I was of the great TV movie chronicling the feat a year later.
My perspective
In 1980, I was 10 years old when the Winter Olympics started at Lake Placid. My focus was on the Canadian Olympic team, who the nation was getting to know as they played games leading up to the Olympics. They were in the Red Pool with the Soviet Union and Finland, while the United States was in the Blue Pool with Sweden and Czechoslovakia.
In 1980, I was 10 years old when the Winter Olympics started at Lake Placid. My focus was on the Canadian Olympic team, who the nation was getting to know as they played games leading up to the Olympics. They were in the Red Pool with the Soviet Union and Finland, while the United States was in the Blue Pool with Sweden and Czechoslovakia.
The games were on during school, and I was only able to catch the tail end of some games when I got home around 4 p.m. The only game I actually saw the United States play was their first one. They were playing Sweden, and trailed 2-1 late in the game. The Americans pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. As time ticked down, the puck was slid across to Bill Baker who one-timed it past the Swedish goalie.
The Americans had salvaged a 2-2 tie.
Canada would go on to have a heartbreaking tournament. They came close against Finland and the Soviets, but lost to both of them and did not make the medal round.
I stopped watching after that, and heard the Americans had won gold after they had actually done it.
It just wasn’t that interesting to me. Canada was out, and the Americans seemed to win everything else anyway.
My interest in the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team changed a year later, when I watched an excellent movie on Channel 7 of the peasant vision dial.
Miracle on Ice
The movie was called “Miracle on Ice”, and it came out in 1981. It chronicled the rise of the U.S. Olympic hockey team from the players getting their letters inviting them to try out, right through to the end of the gold medal game.
The movie was called “Miracle on Ice”, and it came out in 1981. It chronicled the rise of the U.S. Olympic hockey team from the players getting their letters inviting them to try out, right through to the end of the gold medal game.
It is essentially told through the eyes of coach Herb Brooks, who was played brilliantly by Karl Malden. Very early on we learn Herb Brooks was the last player cut from the 1960 US Olympic hockey team that also won gold on home ice at Squaw Valley, California.
The movie delves into the struggle the U.S. Olympic team had in attracting and keeping players, the same challenge Canada had. All the best young talent was seduced by the money and fame of the National Hockey League. Even if players did commit to the Olympic team, they often hired agents. That jeopardized their amateur status which, at the time, was policed very carefully by the International Olympic Committee.
This is all highlighted early in the movie. Steve Grazier is a talented player, expected to make a contribution to the team. Then one day, an agent shows up to practice, so Brooks cuts Grazier, lamenting it is a waste and a shame.
One thing this movie showed, but really didn’t develop as a theme, was the rivalry between the players from the northeast and Minnesota., Those were two of the main hockey hotbeds back then. There was mention of how guys who had faced each other in the college championship a few months earlier were now teammates. This theme is developed much more in “Miracle”, a second movie about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, that came out in 2004.
Heart and soul
“Miracle on Ice” also really focuses on two players who played pivotal roles on the team. One was Mike Eruzione, played by Andrew Stevens, who worked hard and was a natural leader. When the time came, the players voted him to be their captain. He voted for Buzz Schneider. Eruzione, ultimately, was the leader of that team and scored the game-winning goal against the Soviets. In the final intermission of their last game, Eruzione says win or lose nothing can beat the feeling he had playing for the Olympic team, and planned to retire after the game. Despite pro offers, he kept his word.
“Miracle on Ice” also really focuses on two players who played pivotal roles on the team. One was Mike Eruzione, played by Andrew Stevens, who worked hard and was a natural leader. When the time came, the players voted him to be their captain. He voted for Buzz Schneider. Eruzione, ultimately, was the leader of that team and scored the game-winning goal against the Soviets. In the final intermission of their last game, Eruzione says win or lose nothing can beat the feeling he had playing for the Olympic team, and planned to retire after the game. Despite pro offers, he kept his word.
The other was goaltender Jim Craig, played by a very young Steve Guttenberg. The movie highlights the bond Jim had with his Dad, played by Eugene Roche, made stronger by the death of Jim’s mom a few months earlier. When I was reading about “Miracle on Ice” in “TV Guide”, there is a picture of Guttenberg playing Jim Craig. The cutline under the photo said the Americans had just won gold and he was looking up in the stands for his father. Interestingly the fathers of Jim Craig and Mike Eruzione were friends too.
The movie also shows how great Craig played in the Olympics to backstop his team to victory.
In the movie, Herb Brooks is portrayed as a hard man, demanding excellence from his players. The underlying suspicion is that he is so driven because he had been the last cut on that 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal team. In one scene, he takes Eruzione aside. He tells him that when he rides him and uses his first name, he is talking to him personally, but when he calls him Eruzione he is sending a message to the whole team. He told Eruzione to tell Craig the same went for him.
The players
Through “Miracle on Ice”, I learned all the members of the team, some of whom I watched in the NHL for years to come. The next year’s hockey cards also had a little logo on the cards of NHL players who had played for the U.S. Olympic team.
Through “Miracle on Ice”, I learned all the members of the team, some of whom I watched in the NHL for years to come. The next year’s hockey cards also had a little logo on the cards of NHL players who had played for the U.S. Olympic team.
They were:
• Jim Craig, who played initially with Atlanta, but was traded to his home Boston Bruins when the Flames moved to Calgary and were looking to stockpile draft picks.
• Mike Eruzione, who never played pro. A year or so after the Olympics, I was flipping through a magazine and saw he worked for ESPN.
• Bill Baker, who played for the Montreal Canadiens. I watched him on “Hockey Night In Canada”, where he got cut in a fight and bled all over his jersey and the ice.
• Dave Christian, who played for the Winnipeg Jets. His dad and uncle had played for the 1960 U.S. Olympic hockey team. There is a scene on “Miracle on Ice”, where he is being interviewed and lets out a little frustration about always being asked about that. Then he apologizes to the reporter, composes himself, and gives him the quote he wants.
• Ken Morrow, who joined the New York Islanders after the Olympics and immediately won a Stanley Cup with them. I will always remember his massive, bushy beard, because I saw him a lot on TV when the Islanders were making their run for the Cup.
• Mike Ramsey, who played for the Buffalo Sabres. I always recall him playing with Craig Ramsay who spelled his name just a bit differently.
• Rob McLanahan, who played for Buffalo then Minnesota.
• Jack O’Callahan, who played for the Chicago Blackhawks. He got hurt, and Brooks could have replaced him with a healthy skater, but chose to carry him on the roster until he got healthy. That made an impression on the rest of the players. O’Callahan was played by a young Peter Horton, who would go on to success in “Thirtysomething” and some other shows.
• Neal Broten, who played for Minnesota, and had two brothers also play in the NHL.
• Mark Pavelich, who played for the New York Rangers.
• Dave Silk, who also played for the New York Rangers.
• Buzz Schneider, John Harrington and Phil Vercota, who didn’t play in the NHL.
• Bob Suter, who opened up a sporting goods store. He is the brother of Gary Suter who played for the Calgary Flames, and father of Ryan Suter who currently plays in the NHL.
• Steve Janaszak, the back-up goalie, and only member of the team he saw no ice time in the Olympics.
• Mark Wells and Eric Strobel.
• Steve Christoff, who played for the Minnesota North Stars.
• Mark Johnson, who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the son of Bob Johnson, who coached the Calgary Flames, then Pittsburgh, where he won a Stanely Cup with the Penguins in 1991.
• Jim Craig, who played initially with Atlanta, but was traded to his home Boston Bruins when the Flames moved to Calgary and were looking to stockpile draft picks.
• Mike Eruzione, who never played pro. A year or so after the Olympics, I was flipping through a magazine and saw he worked for ESPN.
• Bill Baker, who played for the Montreal Canadiens. I watched him on “Hockey Night In Canada”, where he got cut in a fight and bled all over his jersey and the ice.
• Dave Christian, who played for the Winnipeg Jets. His dad and uncle had played for the 1960 U.S. Olympic hockey team. There is a scene on “Miracle on Ice”, where he is being interviewed and lets out a little frustration about always being asked about that. Then he apologizes to the reporter, composes himself, and gives him the quote he wants.
• Ken Morrow, who joined the New York Islanders after the Olympics and immediately won a Stanley Cup with them. I will always remember his massive, bushy beard, because I saw him a lot on TV when the Islanders were making their run for the Cup.
• Mike Ramsey, who played for the Buffalo Sabres. I always recall him playing with Craig Ramsay who spelled his name just a bit differently.
• Rob McLanahan, who played for Buffalo then Minnesota.
• Jack O’Callahan, who played for the Chicago Blackhawks. He got hurt, and Brooks could have replaced him with a healthy skater, but chose to carry him on the roster until he got healthy. That made an impression on the rest of the players. O’Callahan was played by a young Peter Horton, who would go on to success in “Thirtysomething” and some other shows.
• Neal Broten, who played for Minnesota, and had two brothers also play in the NHL.
• Mark Pavelich, who played for the New York Rangers.
• Dave Silk, who also played for the New York Rangers.
• Buzz Schneider, John Harrington and Phil Vercota, who didn’t play in the NHL.
• Bob Suter, who opened up a sporting goods store. He is the brother of Gary Suter who played for the Calgary Flames, and father of Ryan Suter who currently plays in the NHL.
• Steve Janaszak, the back-up goalie, and only member of the team he saw no ice time in the Olympics.
• Mark Wells and Eric Strobel.
• Steve Christoff, who played for the Minnesota North Stars.
• Mark Johnson, who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is the son of Bob Johnson, who coached the Calgary Flames, then Pittsburgh, where he won a Stanely Cup with the Penguins in 1991.
The glory
After surviving that scare against Sweden, the Americans went undefeated against the rest of the Blue Pool, advancing to the medal round. There, they shocked the Soviets then beat the Finns to secure gold. In each game, the Americans came from behind to win.
After surviving that scare against Sweden, the Americans went undefeated against the rest of the Blue Pool, advancing to the medal round. There, they shocked the Soviets then beat the Finns to secure gold. In each game, the Americans came from behind to win.
The man
Herb Brooks spent nine years as head coach of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers leading up to the Olympics, from 1972 to 1979. Afterwards, he coached HC Davos in Switzerland in 1980-1981, then hit the big time.
Herb Brooks spent nine years as head coach of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers leading up to the Olympics, from 1972 to 1979. Afterwards, he coached HC Davos in Switzerland in 1980-1981, then hit the big time.
Brooks coached the New York Rangers from 1981 to 1985. In the 1981-1982 season, the team won 39 games, lost 27 games, tied 14, finished second in the Patrick Division, and lost in the second round to the New York Islanders.
In the 1982-1983 season, the Rangers won 35 games, lost 35, tied 10, finished fourth in the Patrick Division, and again lost in the second round to the Islanders.
In the 1983-1984 season, New York won 42 games, lost 29, tied nine, finished fourth in the Patrick Division, and lost in the first round to the Islanders.
It should be noted the Islanders went all the way to the Stanley Cup final all three years, winning in 1982 and 1983.
In the 1984-1985 season, the Rangers were 45 games into the year, winning 15 games, losing 22, and tying eight when Brooks was fired.
He coached St. Cloud State in 1986-1987, then returned to the NHL in the 1987-1988 season. He coached the Minnesota North Stars to a record of 19 wins, 48 losses, and 13 ties as the North Stars missed the playoffs.
He coached St. Cloud State in 1986-1987, then returned to the NHL in the 1987-1988 season. He coached the Minnesota North Stars to a record of 19 wins, 48 losses, and 13 ties as the North Stars missed the playoffs.
The years after
Herb Brooks coached the Utica Devils in the 1991-1992 season, then the New Jersey Devils in the 1992-1993 season; was a scout for the Pitsburgh Penguins from 1995 to 2002; coached France’s Olympic team in 1998; coached the Penguins in 1999-2000; the U.S. Olympic team in 2002; and was director of player development for the Penguins in 2002-2003.
Herb Brooks coached the Utica Devils in the 1991-1992 season, then the New Jersey Devils in the 1992-1993 season; was a scout for the Pitsburgh Penguins from 1995 to 2002; coached France’s Olympic team in 1998; coached the Penguins in 1999-2000; the U.S. Olympic team in 2002; and was director of player development for the Penguins in 2002-2003.
He was elected to the Hockey Hall Of Fame as a builder in 2006.
Sadly, Herb Brooks died in a car accident in 2003.
He was 66.
Watching the movie
The first time I saw “Miracle on Ice”, was on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial on a Sunday night. My parents had gone to bed, so I had to watch the last part of the movie with the volume turned low and huddled close to the TV so I could hear it.
The first time I saw “Miracle on Ice”, was on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial on a Sunday night. My parents had gone to bed, so I had to watch the last part of the movie with the volume turned low and huddled close to the TV so I could hear it.
The second time I saw “Miracle on Ice”, I had a VCR by then. I taped it when it aired as a late night movie after midnight. I recall my grandfather visiting and, when I paused the movie to go to the bathroom, and the picture flickered, my grandpa said the TV was broken.
I kept that tape until it fell victim to the cleaning out of my Mom’s basement four years ago.
Parting thoughts
Everything I know about Herb Brooks I pretty much learned in “Miracle on Ice”. He was intense, focused, and single-minded in his quest for gold. Karl Malden did a masterful job playing him.
Everything I know about Herb Brooks I pretty much learned in “Miracle on Ice”. He was intense, focused, and single-minded in his quest for gold. Karl Malden did a masterful job playing him.
Incidentally, Jessica Walter played is wife, long before she was Lucille Bluth on “Arrested Development”.
I consider “Miracle on Ice” one of my favourite sports movies of all time. The story is just so compelling.
So much so, it was made into a second movie, “Miracle”, in 2002, with Kurt Russell playing Herb Brooks. He too did a masterful job.
You have to, because both Malden and Russell were playing a miracle worker.
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