Wednesday is the 43rd anniversary of “Miracle on Ice”.

CHICAGO – What many consider to be the greatest moment in American sports history happened 43 years ago Wednesday.

That’s when a group of young hockey players pull off what has become known as the “Miracle on Ice.”

On February 22, 1980, the US men’s hockey team pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.

Under the leadership of Herb Brooks, college players and young prospects came together to overwhelm the veteran Soviet team 4-3 in the first game of the medal round. The Soviet Union entered the contest with four previous Olympic gold medals in hockey, and to that point were undefeated in the tournament.

After defeating the United States 10-3 in an exhibition game held at Madison Square Garden in New York before the start of the Lake Placid Games, the Soviet Union won all five games in the qualifying rounds by a combined score of 51-11. bottom.

The game was also played at a controversial point in the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, adding to the atmosphere that preceded the Medal Round Games.

But this afternoon, in front of the pro-US crowd at the Olympic Fieldhouse in Lake Placid, something was different. The US team met the challenge in the first period, equaling the Soviet goal-for-goal, with his one-second score at the end by Mark Johnson tying him two.

Soviet head coach Viktor Tikhonov, upset by the score in the second half, pulled goalkeeper Vladislav Tretyak, arguably the best player in the world. US goalkeeper Jim Craig kept the team in goal to his third place while the Soviet Union led in his second place.

It was then that the host nation moved on as Johnson scored a goal with Mike Erzione 1:21 apart to give the United States the lead. For the next ten minutes, the Soviets tried to even out the game, but failed against Craig.

As the crowd counted down the final seconds, ABC Sports’ Al Michaels uttered a memorable phrase. yes! “

Years later, it remains a great moment not only for sporting achievements, but for civic pride across the country.

Despite the victory, the United States did not win the gold medal at the Lake Placid Games in that victory. They had to beat Finland two days after him and actually in that game he trailed 2-1 after two periods.

But the United States scored three goals in the third period to win 4-2 and clinch the gold medal, completing a magical run in a tournament heightened by miracles 43 years ago Wednesday.