The United States’ 1980 Olympic men’s hockey team was honored by President Donald Trump during a Congressional Gold Medal Act bill signing on Friday, Dec. 12 inside the Oval Office at the White House.
In attendance were 13 members of the ‘Miracle on Ice’ team, which famously defeated the Soviet Union in the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games. Among those present were Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Buzz Schneider and family members of the late Herb Brooks, who coached the team. This comes on the brink of the 45th anniversary of the win over the Soviet Union.
‘This was one of the greatest moments in the history of U.S. sports,’ President Trump said at the bill signing.
In a statement to USA TODAY on the event, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the ‘Miracle on Ice’ team was being honored for its ‘American greatness’ and the ‘resurgence of national pride’ the win over the Soviet Union brought to the country.
‘President Trump will honor the legendary 1980 Olympic men’s ice hockey team whose ‘Miracle on Ice’ resulted in a historic and symbolic victory against the Soviet Union. This triumph fueled a resurgence of national pride as Americans across the country watched Team USA unexpectedly take home the Gold Medal. No one is more committed to honoring American greatness and patriotism than President Trump,’ Rogers said.
On behalf of the team, Eruzione presented Trump with a replica of the cowboy hat that the team wore at the opening ceremonies in Lake Placid.
‘This is an absolutely incredible honor. I’ve said this before, but when you put a USA jersey on, you’re playing for your country, you’re not playing for your state, your town, or your city. And what an honor it was for us to put that jersey on and accomplish what we accomplished,’ Eruzione said during the bill signing. ‘I’ve always said the gold medal is something that’s incredible, but this is the frosting on the cake.’
Added Craig: ‘It’s an honor to be here. I’m so proud of all my teammates and what we have accomplished for our country. When you get a chance to represent your country, whether it’s in the military or a sport, you can do something really special like my team did and then be recognized years later.’
The win over the Soviet Union, of course, came after Brooks’ team sustained a 10-3 defeat to the USSR in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden in New York before the start of the Lake Placid Games. In the rematch, the United States got its revenge by pulling off a come-from-behind 4-3 win, thanks to Eruzione’s game-winning goal in the third period.
The win also snapped a four-Games stretch of winning the gold medal for the Soviet Union.
Two days after beating the Soviet Union, the United States would defeat Finland in the gold medal match to win the nation’s first Olympic gold medal since 1960.
The NHL is set to make its return to the Winter Olympics next month in Italy for the first time since the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.
USA TODAY White House correspondent Joey Garrison contributed to this story