PITTSBURGH — Sunday marked the 35th anniversary of arguably the greatest sporting event in history.
On Feb. 22, 1980, what is now known as the “Miracle on Ice” was played in what was then known as the “Olympic Fieldhouse” in Lake Placid, New York.
More than three decades later, the venue has been renamed the “Herb Brooks Arena” in honor of the architect and head coach of Team USA.
This sports classic was not televised live in the United States. Instead, it was seen on tape delay.
It was a simpler time. No Twitter, no Facebook and no pros in the Olympics - only 20 amateur hockey stars playing under the tutelage of Brooks, one of three connections to the Penguins from this iconic event.
Nineteen years after the “Miracle on Ice,” Brooks took over as head coach of the Pens.
One of the standouts from that team, Mark Johnson, scored twice in the game against the Soviets. Johnson, the son of future Pens head coach Badger Bob Johnson, played for the Penguins after the Olympics.
The third link to the Pens from that team was assistant coach Craig Patrick, who began a long stint as general manager of the Pens in 1989.
Although coaches weren’t usually given Olympic medals, USA Hockey and the U.S. Olympic Committee made an exception in 1980, and decided to award medals to both Brooks and Patrick.
Five years ago, on the 30th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” Patrick let me wear his medal. It is indeed a rare treasure.
Patrick’s gold, and the other 21 that were awarded, are among the greatest ever won by the USA.
The gold came after a win over Finland the morning of Sunday, Feb. 24, but it couldn’t have happened without the monumental upset of the Soviets two days earlier.
The “Miracle on Ice” was truly an event for the ages, a victory that’s only bigger and more significant 35 years after the day it was played.