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Winter Olympics Lesson: Teaching The Miracle on Ice
Teaching Miracle on Ice is a joy for an US History teacher. What an amazing story. On February 22, 1980, a group of young men scored the greatest upset in the history of Olympic hockey, defeating the unseemingly invincible U.S.S.R hockey team.
A great starting point is watch the Disney DVD miracle. We have provided a breakdown of the movie by scenes. We hope it serves a good starting point for teachers.
Compare and Contrast equipment to today.
Opening Credits (0:00 – 3:19): US History US History, US Olympic basketball loss to Russia (30 for 30 Silver Reunion), Resignation of President Nixon, Test Apollo 17, Inflation, streaking, bicentennial 1776, Billy Beer. Gas line, Elvis Dies, tube babies, 1978 Chemical Leakage, 3-mile island nuclear leak, “A Crisis of Confidence” Speech,
Colorado Springs, Colorado 1979
A Lofty Goal (3:20 – 8:44): Sports Illustrated, Pete Rose. Selection Committee. Coaching Philosophy. Longer schedule. Adopt a new style, most of all team chemistry. All-star teams fail. They use a system that is designed for the betterment of the team. A lofty goal – “That’s why I want to pursue it.”
Old School Hockey Game: (Sports video games, family competition) “I Got the job!” Start in two weeks – It’s June. Call Craig Patrick right now – everything takes 2nd fiddle)
Making the Cut (8:45 – 17:49):
Selection Committee USA Hockey. Willing to change. Interview process. Conditioning, speed, creativity, and most of all “team chemistry.” Coaching Philosophy. Longer and tougher schedule. Adopt a new style, a hybrid of Soviet School and Canadian school most of all team chemistry. “Bob, 4 years ago our Olympic team lost to the Czech B team 15 – 0. “It wasn’t because you weren’t good enough. All-star teams fail because they rely solely on the individual talent. They use a system that is designed for the betterment of the team. It is a pretty lofty goal – “That’s why I want to pursue it.”
St. Paul, Minnesota
Sizing up the competition ($30,000 signing bonus). “Yeah, that’s gonna work.” 76
This is the final roster – you kiddin’ me. “Technically” “I am not looking for the best players, I am looking for the right players.” “Ever see him when his game is on?”
Announcing the team: Emotional roller coaster. “I’ll be your coach. I won’t be your friend.” Psychological Test
“They hired me to do a job and I am trying to do it.”
Old Rivalries (17:50 – 23:47): “OC has a little unfinished business. You are not still going on about 76. Why did you want to play college hockey? I wanted to win a national championship. He stole the ring of my finger. I wonder whose side you are on…. I’m out of here.”
Bloomington Minnesota: “That coast to coast stuff won’t work.” “Bush League OC. – Fight.”
Start becoming a team.
Introductions:
Motivations (23:48 – 32:48): “I don’t see what it has to do with stopping a puck.” “You just took it.” How committed are you to being here? “My dad is going through a tough time. Bottom line is my mom wanted this. Hard to say no to someone who drove you to practice every day.”
Coaches use different motivational tools for different teams and players.
“Herb has a reason for everything he does.” Breaking down film.
Family: “You’ll figure it out!” Can you turn that off please. “I am coaching a hockey team here. We talked about this?” “We never had this talk!”
“I know what this is about… are we going to do this every 4 years. Go finish your work.
Old team photos! 1960 Hockey team. Last cut. “It is not the easiest for you or the kids. Patty, I have to do this. “Can you be with me on this, because it won’t mean anything if you are not.”
Training (32:49 – 38:47): “The legs feed the wolf. We will be the best conditioned team. That I can promise you. You are going to skate harder than you have in your life.
“The fastest way to make this team is by being fast.”
Again (38:48 – 46:56):
“Legs feed the wolf:” Take their game and shove it back in their face. The team that decides to do that. Boys we won’t be. No one has ever worked hard enough to skate with them WE have.
Not good but better. Team showers, Cuts
Goalie training, juggling against the glass, plate passing
Iranian Hostages
Whatever it Takes (46:57 – 53:27):
“I love you pop! Keep the glove up.” Parents want kids to succeed. Team stretching: “Herb is not going to do a damn thing. He is just messing with our minds.” “Come that close and get nothing? He will do whatever it takes.
Carter may boycott Moscow games “There are things you can control and there are things you can’t.”
“Don’t ever criticize me for caring about you.”
vs. IHL All-stars
We’re a Family (53:28 – : We are a family. “And this is the family you want to go to Lake Placid with. You have one more to get to 20.” Crisis of Confidence “Stop crying and start sweating.”
Bonding off the ice / court
“Dear Daddy We left the star for you”
Final Roster (last cuts are never easy): “Dead Man Walking” What do you say? Kremlin – They are all going to play.
The Soviet Machine: Game vs. Soviets 3 days before the opening ceremony. NHL Challenge Trophy (beating pros decisively).
Soviets Get the Puck out of Afghanistan
“He shouts, he scores!” Los 10 – 3.
3 days until Sweden 3 – 4 games minimum. Injuries (or being healthy) play a role in a team’s success.
“I miss you too1” It is hard on a family being a college / professional coach.
Olympics Begin
“Doc said no right.” This is why I am hanging on to you.
The news of being cleared to play again.
USA Sweden
Period Speech: Flipping table. “A bruise on the leg is a helluva long way from the heart.”
“I am a Hockey Player” Do you think that will get them going? (Motivational Speeches)
2:49 Sweden is leading 2-1. 1:40 remains.
Victor: “Knowing opposing coaches and players.”
Beat Those Commie Bastards
They played their hearts out. That is the important thing.”
Team Effort
Are you Ready to go? Are you serious? I am playing!
Pre-game ritual
“This is Your Time”
“Great moments are born from great opportunity,
5.7M views: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI
3X face value for a ticket. Supply and demand
Score Tied Amazing LAST-second goal.
“Boys, they just put the best goalie in the world on the bench.” The conehead line. Knock Craig down – easy goal open net. “Playing every minute of every game.” “No I’m good, just give me a sec.”
Analysts are often former players.
“USA!” “The US is trying to overcome enormous odds and beat the greatest team in the world.” “We can beat these guys! Everybody in Who do you play for… USA. (What are your ”everybody in in” calls?)
The opportunity of a lifetime. Have you ever known
Slashing penalty: USA Power play. “Let’s take advantage of this now!” Johnson scores with 0:04 left on the power play.
15:17 3 – 3
(A hockey goalie might be the most influential position in ALL of sports! Can you think of any other.)
Victory
3:19 shifts
Poise and Control. No more changes until the next whistle
That moment of Private Victory when all the hard work paid off. Fans celebrate.
Defeated Finland coming from behind again. “It was a lot more than a hockey game.
Standing as one. Willing to sacrifice for an unknown. Dream teams. Now that we have dream teams. A group of a chance for one night to dream, but a chance to believe.
End Credits
Crisis of Confidence Speech Jimmy Carter July 15, 1979
Pre-olympic game
USA Hockey vs. U.S.S.R February 22, 1980 Full Game
NY Times Article: Russian hockey team annihilates Team USA 10-3 in Madison Square Garden exhibition before start of 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid (Originally published by the Daily News on Sunday, Feb. 10, 1980; written by Lawrie Mifflin)