Trump honors ‘Miracle on Ice’ Team USA hockey team

President Donald Trump honored the 1980 United States men’s Olympic hockey team with a bill signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Friday.

“This is very exciting. This was one of the greatest moments in US sports. I have a very exciting team of champions behind me,” Trump said at the meeting attended by many members of the team. “It was an incredible event. There were other troubles in the world – I didn’t realize they were going through any of them, did I? You’re the only ones. It’s amazing.”

“We are delighted to be joined today by the 1980 U.S. Olympic ice hockey team, legends of American sports history and heroes of the entire nation. This was one of the greatest moments I have ever seen in sports, and I love sports. These are the men who gave us one of the most famous athletic wins of all time.”

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Team members wore the hats they wore at the 1980 inauguration, and team captain Mike Eruzione rewarded Trump with a replica.

“More importantly, I think I can’t express in words how proud we are of all you’ve done for our team. The honor you’ve given our team is incredible.”

Goaltender Jim Craig thanked Trump “for the courage you show our country every day and for making our country safe again.”

“The pride we felt in 1980 was incredible, and thanks to your leadership we are beginning to feel it again,” added Bill Baker.

“My father believed. He believed in the American hockey player, he believed in his country, he loved this team, he loved his country. I wish he was here, but it’s an honor to represent him.”

Hockey: 1980 Winter Olympics: General view of Team USA players celebrating on the ice after winning the medal round game against the USSR at the Olympic Field at the Olympic Center. Miracle on Ice. The incident occurred on February 22, 1980 in Lake Placid, New York. (Eric Schweikardt/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

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Herb Brooks’ son Dan also attended the meeting.

Trump signed H.R. 452, which awards “Congressional Gold Medals to members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team in recognition of the team’s success at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games.”

The team, which included amateurs and college players, completed the “Miracle on Ice” with a surprising defeat against the Soviets, who had been considered the favorites and international power for years. The victory catapulted the Americans to a chance at gold; The Stars and Stripes achieved this by beating Finland two days later.

The Soviets had famously beaten the United States in a pre-Olympic exhibition match at Madison Square Garden, but the Americans were angry at the right time. In the game, the Russians benched long-time starting goaltender Vladislav Tretiak, who allowed a goal with just one second left in the first period to tie the game at two.

The Americans trailed 3-2 entering the third quarter, but Mark Johnson tied the score midway through the final quarter. Less than two minutes later, Eruzione finally scored the game-winning goal and was mobbed on the ice.

Mike Eruzione at the 1980 Winter Olympics. (Photo: Heinz Kluetmeier /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

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“Miracle on Ice” begins with Al Michaels rhetorically asking the audience “Do you believe in miracles?” It comes from the famous play where he asks: He answered his own question emphatically: “Yes!”

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