USA vs. Soviet Union: Inside the 'Miracle on Ice' story with Jim Craig
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2025
- In this exclusive look back at one of the most iconic moments in sports history, Olympic hero Jim Craig opens up about what really went down during the Miracle on Ice game. As the starting goalie for Team USA in their historic 1980 upset over the Soviet Union, Jim takes us behind the scenes, sharing never-before-heard stories, his mindset during the game, and the incredible pressure of that moment. From the locker room to the final buzzer, Jim’s firsthand account reveals the highs, lows, and raw emotions of that unforgettable night. Whether you're a die-hard hockey fan or just fascinated by the power of sport, this inside look at the Miracle on Ice will leave you inspired and in awe.
This was a damn good interview. You should be proud.
As a Minnesotan, it was surreal. I played youth and high school hockey against or with all of the Minnesotans on the team. I attended Herb Brooks hockey camps. So in a way you felt an association with the team, even though you didn’t play on the team.
You helped feed the legs of those wolves.
Wow. That must have been something to be that close to the people responsible for the best sporting event in history. Because of this USA team, at 12 years old in 1980, I tried to take up ice hockey in CA for god's sake but unfortunately, it was nearly impossible for a kid to play in a league in CA. I even went out and bought some black CCM tacks. Had to take up roller hockey in tennis courts instead but still have the tacks in storage to remind me. Thanks for sharing.
@@tonyr.5956 hockey is a great sport. Here in Minnesota it’s like football in Texas or basketball in Indiana. Our high school hockey tournament is legendary.
@@wtfminny So true….I always wanted to go, and finally went for the first time in 2022 and saw the Andover vs Maple Grove final and it was one of most insanely cool things I’ve ever witnessed. The atmosphere was just electric. Can’t wait to go back and see it again someday!
Look Up Minnesota vs Massachusetts highschool All Star game 1984 .
Al Michaels commentating the Olympic Games and the movie is icing on the cake
My greatest moment in my hockey career was playing our arch rival for the championship at the exact same time the US was playing the CCCP. Our parents were listening on transistor radios and giving us play by play when we were on the bench. It was the most inspiring thing I have ever experienced! We scored in the first minute of the game. Final score?
1-0
Thank you, Jim Craig and the rest of the team!!
I hope to meet at least one member of the team someday.
Amazing just amazing. I was at this game with my dad and brother. Unbelievable experience I’ll never forget.
I remember being an 11 yr old kid from Boston living in Tucson, & our family watching every game and when that one came on we all watched every minute even eating dinner in front of the TV which we were NEVER allowed to do- we did that night! Priceless
All of Jim Craig's interviews are so cool! Just so insightful!
Great guest. Thank you for this interview!
Joseph Vincent’s video on the miracle on ice still gives me goosebumps.
I remember as a kid who played Hockey, that this team was just unreal
Those games that year are still the best hockey games I have ever seen.
went and watched ‘Miracle’ again and Craig is a central figure in the movie! I remembered him as just another character before I re-watched
I wonder why no one, including Craig brings up the 1979 Worlds.
USA Hockey had made Brooks coach for the 1980 Olympics.
So they gave him the 1979 Worlds coaching job. He took about
12 NCAA Players including Craig, O'Callahan, Morrow, Johnson, Cox, lots of Brooks Minnesota '79 National Champs players and Joe Mullen from BC. They added about 5-6 US NHL players also.
They tied Czechoslovakia 2-2 with Craig in net. That was a harbinger of things to come in 1980. I'm sure that game told them they could compete with
Czechoslovakia who they dominated in the 1980 Olympics.
I was 13 years old. I'll never forget it. You had to be alive then to understand what the US/USSR rivalry/animosity meant. I still tear up when I see these interviews...
I too was 13 and you’re right about the animosity. I thought that the movie “Miracle” captured that well.
I watched the game with my Mom. She was ironing and at the end while Al Michaels counted down I had a light punk in one hand and a pack of firecrackers in the other hand with the patio door opened about a foot. At the end I lit ‘em and threw them out. The camera showed the coach, Tikanov (sp?) and Mom said, “Well he’s headed for Siberia….”
Thank you for that last Quote from Jim Craig
The impossible becomes possible
When you believe
That’s so powerful
"Of miracles and men" was an excellent documentary from the soviet union point of view. Its really well done.
No game will ever match that game. Sports were so different. The game was tape delayed
Canadians disagree
@@KMK7355don’t care what you think… the 1980 Olympic team will go down as the greatest “win” in hockey history… and possibly the history of sports in allot of ways… you guys invented it… we defined it pure and simple..
Soviet league goal scoring leaders were in 1980 Shalimov 34 goals Drotzdetzky 31 Varnakov 30 Priodin 27 Lavrentjev 27 they did not played in 1980 olympics! USA had More Ice rinks and hockey players than Russia in 1980! Russia have only 80000 hockey players today! USA have 585000 hockey players today! Soccer have 250 million players! Soccer have 4 billion fans around the world! Cricket have 2,5 billion fans around the world!
@@RaineriHakkarainen
The American players were actual amateurs. The soviet players were professional hockey players poorly disguised as "professional soldiers"
@@RaineriHakkarainen there is no relevant point to the list of things you said. On-topic Tourette’s, basically.
Such a great interview!
I will never forget this game as long as I live - NEVER. On that enormous RCA TV that was literally a piece of furniture. I have never cried after any sporting event ever. Those boys touched our hearts and lifted us up as a country. It’s why people shout “USA! USA! USA!” today for any reason. I went to the bus stop and me and all my pals were so proud to be Americans. Just a bunch of high fives and hugs. We beat the Russians! I’m so grateful to say I was able to witness this game and that moment. Those last 10 minutes - holy crap! And that man Jim Craig was a force of nature between the pipes. I get chills just thinking about it. God bless that team and their perfect coach Herb. It truly was a MIRACLE!
I can only imagine the pressures on the ice! Amazing 👏
I get a kick of of Mike Eruzione's story of Coach Brook's pre game pep talk before the Finland game. Remember, it was still possible for the U.S. to lose to Finland and leave medal less. Eruzione related. "Before the game Herb tells us.'If you lose this game today. You will take it to your fucking graves. He walks out turns around goes back in the locker room and says. 'your fucking graves." Christ and I thought Bill Parcells was a master motivator!
As a Northern Minnesotan, I was 16 when we beat the Soviets, to say we were happy was a understatement, imo STILL the greatest moment in the history of Sports
The recall of detail by Jim here is impressive.
In 1980, I knew next to nothing about ice hockey, and still know very little about the complexities of the sport.
But, I have always been a committed soccer/football fan. I know heroic goalkeeping when I see it. Craig's performance in that game was the stuff of Homeric epic poetry. He has no earthly business making half the saves he made that day.
So glad I got to see the US team play in person . The game against the Russian's was my dads birthday 02/22/80 what a birthday present
Beating the Russians on that Friday night in Lake Placid was an incredible night for the whole country. What tends to get lost is that the team had to go back an play Finland two days later to win the gold. There was no letting up by this team. Really Amazing.
I still have the Sports Illustrated issues about the team and the one item that I find fascinating is the day after the Soviet game. The team is celebrating, signing autographs, sticks, etc when Herb comes into the locker room and throws a "shit fit"; he knew, and they didn't realize, that if they lost to Finland they would go home with NO medal, so beating the Soviets would mean nothing. I wish the movie would have shown that because it was an important piece of the puzzle.
Herb Brooks was pure brilliant. he had a plan for what kinda of team he wanted, and what type of players he wanted even before the tryout process began. plus telling the Olympic committee that he wanted a 60 plus game exhibation tour both in North America and Europe.
Great interview
It's about time you get Adam Vinatieri on the show... best kicker ever. Tommy wouldn't have a couple rings if not for him
Agreed!! People overlook the great Pats D Brady had too. Make it sound like he won everything by himself. Pisses me off.
lost in history that USA v Soviets wasn’t the championship game
Neither was USA vs Finland... it was on a point system, so literally every game was the championship; USA was 6-0-1, USSR was 6-1-0. Every game mattered. It wasn't a tournament format where the final game was all that counted. So, USA beating Czechoslavakia, Germany, Norway etc. Meant just as much as that last game. That's why Finland didn't even medal even though they played in the "last game"
this show just gets better and better!!
I remember Al Michaels talking about the Russian Hockey Team at the 1984 Olympics saying "4 years ago we thought these guys would all be in Siberia"
Craig stood on his head in that game
One of my regrets was not watching the Russia game. My father called me and told me to put the game on and I wasn't interested at the time. I loved hockey--I am a lifelong Rangers' fan--just wasn't into the Olympic games. Oh well--I think I knew how it turned out.
Jim should have mentioned the disparity in shots on goal but he was probably being humble. The US had 16 shots on goal, the Russians has 39.
And it wasn't even the gold medal game. The rest of the hockey world really disliked the USSR team as well.
Not much emphasis is placed on a key component of their success. They were far and away in better condition than all the other teams. Almost all their victories were come from behind.
People forget, they still had to beat Finland to win the Gold medals. In words of Herb Brooks if they didn't beat Finland they would take it too thier Graves
I live an hour from Placid. Moved to a small town on the fringe of the Adirondack MTS in NYS. I met a man that needed a roommate. We’re still roomies. He is from Placid. As we were unpacking he had all these 1980 Miracle On Ice items from different teams. He was 15 at the time. He became the teams Stickboy. His name is Rory H. He tells me about it once in a while. He can be seen in ABC’s Wide World of Sports montage for a QuickDraw second during “The Thrill of Victory” The Agony of Defeat.” For some years.
Legend has it that he was the one that draped the USA Flag over Jim Craig’s shoulders.
The USSR felt that they were failing when it was 2-2 pulling Tretiak the 5 X MVP was a dagger .. they just couldn’t understand how it was happening
The game against the Soviets wasn't even broadcast live.
I would be a good thing that one of the members of this team would be the next president of the united States. They gave spirit in 1980 even as Eric Heiden did.
nice
I’m still proud of how these young men beat the big bad Russian bear back then - but I view this game differently today. Over the years, when all the issues sounding Victor Tikinov, and the horrible way he treated this team, it gave me a different perspective as to how I view the 1980 games today, I feel a bit of sympathy for the Russian team and the crap they went through. Don’t get me wrong, ecstatic for the USA kids - always will. But the way those Soviet players were treated was really appalling. The Russians are in the NHL now. They’re regular people we cheer for when they play for our team. Just players…now, and back then. (Love the documentary “The Russian Five”).
Interesting that Russian Coach Viktor Tikhonov never pulled goalie Myshkin for a 6th skater.
I dont believe the Russians believed in doing that philosophically. It was a low % play
also in the olympics goals for and against...didnt that matter in terms of team rankings. they didnt want to give the U.S. potentially a free goal
I've watched the Russian National team on many occasions and I have never seen them pull their goalie. They don't believe it is a good strategic move.
YES! YOU DID PLAY YOUR BEST GAME ON ALL GAMES MY LOVE💞 YES! YOU DID! BOUYAH 💥
I wonder what the outcome would’ve been if the Russians didn’t drink the whole entire night before the game
I get that they are all American but referring to the miracle on ice team as “us” when a member of the team is in the room feels crazy to me😂
You look comfortable in your white sweats too! Your wife loves your comfort look! Kudos my love💋
North American hockey: Shots on goal from a bad angle are shots nonetheless. Russian hockey: Bad shots are a sign of recklessness. Both have their merits, I guess.
Yep. And I mean ask Rangers fans Alexei Kovalev played that way and it drove people nuts. And he scored goals in the NHL...plenty. But to the people watching him it seems like he couldve scored 100+ more
There was always a conspiracy that the CIA got LSD into Russian goalie water bottle.
I thought the rumor was the Russians were all hungover from the night before.
@davemac5260
I used to have a book called the 50 best conspiracies.
One of the stories was cia put liquid acid in the Russian goalies water bottle.
Red Army isn't allowed out. They were watched by the kgb 24/7 for fear of defection.