๐บ๐ธ United Statesย 3-2ย Soviet Union ๐ท๐บ
Olympic Medalย Round
Blyth Memorial Ice Arena, Olympic Valley ๐บ๐ธ
Saturday, 27 February 1960
There was no colour television coverage, no announcer using a catch-phrase like “miracle on ice,” no celebration of the extraordinary over and above a remarkable Gold medal. But make no mistake – when the United States won Olympic Gold in 1960 in Olympic Valley, California, it was a much greater miracle than the one that occurred in Lake Placid 20 years later. In 1980, it was one game – a 4-3 win over the Soviet Union – that defined the American victory. In 1960, the U.S. had to defeat the top four teams in the world to win Gold.
The first signs of something special came in the first series of round robin games when the Americans beat Czechoslovakia, 7-5. The Czechs had a very good team, and after two periods the score was 4-3 for the Czechs. The Americans stormed the Czech goal in the final 20 minutes, though, scoring four goals in a row to take a commanding 7-4 lead. Only a late and meaningless goal from the Czechs made the score a little closer. Two days later, the home team walloped the Australians, 12-1, to no oneโs surprise. The wins advanced the U.S. to a six-team finals round robin pool, and this is where they really proved their worth.
In the first game, against Sweden, the team jumped into a 4-0 lead and coasted to a 6-3 win. Roger Christian led the way with a hat trick. Their second game was a routine 9-1 win over the Germans, and this led to what many people believed would help decide Goldโa showdown against Canada.
Backed by the sensational goaltending of Jack McCartan, the Jim Craig of 1960, the Americans led 1-0 after the first period and 2-0 after the second. Canada got one score back in the third, but the Americans celebrated their 2-1 win by mobbing their goalie who had stopped 39 of 40 shots (at the other end, Don Head of Canada faced only 27 shots).
The win put the Americans in the driverโs seat, but there was still much work to be done. Next up were the Soviets, but this time it was the visitors who led 2-1 after 20 minutes. But Bill Christian, Rogerโs brother, was the hero this night, scoring once in the second to tie the game and again in the third to give the U.S. another stunning win, this one by a 3-2 score. To complete the miracle, the U.S. beat the Czechs again by an easy 9-4 score to win the Gold medal.
There were no invitations to the White House, no Sports Illustrated covers, nor any notoriety that lasted beyond a week or so. One of the best U.S. players, Bill Cleary, had made the decision not to pursue a pro-career.
Proud that he was paid $15 a month to play with the Olympic team, he said at a reunion in 1995: “I wouldnโt trade my chance to march in the Olympic opening ceremony for 100 Stanley Cup championships,” said Cleary. “When it was over, we all went back to our lives. Thatโs the way we wanted it.”
BOXSCORE
1st Period
04:04 – ๐บ๐ธย GOAL – W. Cleary (R. Cleary)
05:03 – ๐ท๐บย GOAL – Alexandrov (Sologubov)
09:37 – ๐ท๐บย GOAL – Bychkov (Grebennikov)
10:41 – ๐ท๐บย PEN – Sidorenkov, tripping
2nd Period
31:01 – ๐บ๐ธย GOAL – W. Christian (R. Christian)
34:57 – ๐ท๐บย PEN – Sologubov, tripping
38:25 – ๐บ๐ธย PEN – R. Christian, slashing
3rd Period
43:50 – ๐บ๐ธย PEN – R. Cleary, tripping
45:48 – ๐ท๐บย PEN – Grebennikov, interference
54:59 – ๐บ๐ธย GOAL – W. Christian (Williams, R. Christian)
GOALTENDERS
W: ๐บ๐ธย McCartan (27-29)
L: ๐ท๐บย Puchkov (31-34)
SHOTS ON GOAL
๐บ๐ธ 10+10+14 =ย 34
๐ท๐บ 16+8+5 =ย 29
ROSTERS
๐บ๐ธ Goaltenders:ย Jack McCartan, Lawrence Palmer. Defence: William Christian, John Kirrane (C), John Mayasich, Edwyn Owen (A), Rodney Paavola. Forwards: Roger Christian, Robert Cleary, William Cleary, Paul Johnson, Robert McVey, Weldon Olson (A), Richard Rodenheiser, Tommy Williams.
๐ท๐บ Goaltenders: Nikolai Puchkov, Yevgeni Yerkin. Defence: Yuri Baulin, Alfred Kuchevski, Genrikh Sidorenkov, Nikolai Sologubov (C). Forwards: Veniamin Alexandrov, Alexander Almetov, Mikhail Bychkov, Vladimir Grebennikov, Yevgeni Groshev, Konstantin Loktev, Stanislav Petukhov, Yuriย Tsitsinov, Viktor Yakushev.
๐บ๐ธ UNITED STATES | vs. | SOVIET UNION (C) ๐ท๐บ |
new champion (previous 03 Feb 1956) |
Last Title |
reign ends (since 26 Nov 1959) |
15 | All-Time Wins |
48 |
1 win | Head-To-Head |
3 wins |
First IHLC Meeting (USA vs. URS) ๐ท๐บ URS 3-0 USA ๐บ๐ธ โ 02 Mar 1955 โ WC โ Krefeld ๐ฉ๐ช |
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Previous IHLC Meeting (USA vs. URS) ๐ท๐บ URS 4-1 USA ๐บ๐ธ โ 07 Mar 1958 โ WC โ Oslo ๐ณ๐ด |
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Last IHLC Game ๐ท๐บ URS 7-1 EUA ๐ฉ๐ช โ 25 Feb 1960 โ OG โ Olympic Valley ๐บ๐ธ |
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Next IHLC Game ๐บ๐ธ USA 9-4 TCH ๐จ๐ฟ โ 28 Feb 1960 โ OG โ Olympic Valley ๐บ๐ธ |
Article Credit: IIHF 100 Top Stories Of The Century
Photo Credit: Business Insiderย –ย IIHF – HHOF – IOC