1980 Miracle on Ice Captain Reflects 46 Years Later

The captain who scored the winning goal against the Soviet Union in 1980 says his team's victory still shows what makes America special.

Mike Eruzione appeared on "60 Minutes" Sunday, exactly 46 years after his team pulled off the impossible. The amateur U.S. hockey players defeated the heavily favored Soviet team 4-3 during the height of the Cold War in what became known as the "Miracle on Ice."

"I think the lesson that our team showed in 1980 by winning an Olympic gold medal, by beating the Soviets, a team that nobody in the world thought we could beat, is a great example of what makes our country so great," Eruzione told CBS correspondent Cecilia Vega.

Their coach Herb Brooks called them a "lunch-pail, hard-hat group of guys." They showed up every day, rolled up their sleeves, and worked to be their best despite everyone doubting them.

The timing of that 1980 victory mattered immensely. Americans needed something to celebrate, and the underdog hockey team delivered.

Eruzione said people still approach him today saying "I remember where I was when we won." He always responds with a smile: "We? I didn't know you were on the team."

That sense of shared victory shows how deeply the moment touched the nation. The game also gave birth to the famous "U-S-A" chant that still echoes through stadiums today.

Why This Inspires

The story gained fresh relevance this past Sunday when Team USA won gold in men's ice hockey again, defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime. It marked only the third time in history the U.S. has won gold in men's hockey, and the first time since that magical 1980 team.

Eruzione's message about believing in something and working hard to achieve it resonates across generations. His team proved that being the underdog doesn't mean accepting defeat.

The 1980 victory came when they beat Finland 4-2 in the gold medal game two days after stunning the Soviets. Those amateur players became legends by refusing to accept that victory was impossible.

Forty-six years later, their legacy lives on through a new generation of champions who just proved miracles can happen twice.