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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to this Moment in Sports History. Podcast number The

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<v Speaker 1>Miracle on Ice gets its Gold February third, nineteen eighty.

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<v Speaker 1>While the Miracle on Ice game itself occurred on February

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<v Speaker 1>twenty second, nineteen eighty, February third, nineteen eighty marks a

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<v Speaker 1>pivotal moment in that legendary story. It was the date

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<v Speaker 1>when teen USA played their first game of the thirteenth

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<v Speaker 1>Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, defeating Sweden

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<v Speaker 1>two to one. This opening game set the stage for

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<v Speaker 1>what would become the most celebrated moment in American hockey history.

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<v Speaker 1>The nineteen eighty US Olympic hockey team, composed entirely of

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<v Speaker 1>amateur and collegiate players with an average age of twenty one,

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<v Speaker 1>faced seemingly impossible odds. They were going up against professional

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<v Speaker 1>teams from hockey powerhouses, including the seemingly invincible Soviet Union,

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<v Speaker 1>which had won gold in five of the previous six Olympics.

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<v Speaker 1>On that chilly February third morning inside the Olympic Center

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<v Speaker 1>in Lake Placid, coach Herb Brooks and his young squad

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<v Speaker 1>onto the ice for their opening match. The game against

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<v Speaker 1>Sweden was crucial, not just for points, but for confidence.

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<v Speaker 1>The Swedes were a formidable opponent, ranked among the world's best.

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<v Speaker 1>The Americans fell behind early, but showed the resilience that

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<v Speaker 1>would define their tournament. With the scored tied one one

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<v Speaker 1>late in the third period and time running out, Bill Baker,

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<v Speaker 1>a defenceman from the University of Minnesota, scored with just

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<v Speaker 1>twenty seven seconds man aiming to salvage a two to

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<v Speaker 1>one tie. Olympic hockey used a different format then, and

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<v Speaker 1>this result gave the US valuable points in the standings.

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<v Speaker 1>This dramatic last second goal was the first sign that

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<v Speaker 1>something special might be brewing with this team. Brooks had

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<v Speaker 1>spent six months drilling his players relentlessly, implementing a hybrid

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<v Speaker 1>playing style that combined North American physicality with European finesse

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<v Speaker 1>and speed. His practices were legendary for their intensity. Some

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<v Speaker 1>players later called them harder than the actual games. The

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<v Speaker 1>tie against Sweden gave the Americans crucial momentum. They would

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<v Speaker 1>go on to win their next three games, setting up

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<v Speaker 1>the February twenty second show down with the Soviets, a

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<v Speaker 1>team that had recently demolished the NHL All Stars six

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<v Speaker 1>to zero in an exhibition game and had outscored their

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<v Speaker 1>Olympic opponents fifty one to eleven in their first five games.

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<v Speaker 1>What makes February third significant in retrospect is that it

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<v Speaker 1>represented the humble beginning of an improbable journey. There was

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<v Speaker 1>no fanfare, no expectation of miracles, just a group of

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<v Speaker 1>college kids and amateurs who refused to quit scoring with

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<v Speaker 1>twenty seven seconds left to earn a tie. They probably

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<v Speaker 1>didn't deserve. That perseverance on February third foreshadowed what was

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<v Speaker 1>to come. The four to three upset of the Soviets

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<v Speaker 1>and the subsequent gold medal victory over Finland. The team

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<v Speaker 1>that learned to never give up on February third would

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<v Speaker 1>captivate a nation two weeks later. Sports Illustrated called the

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<v Speaker 1>Miracle on ice the greatest sports moment of the twentieth century.

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<v Speaker 1>But it all started with a last second goal against

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<v Speaker 1>Sweden on February third, a goal that taught a young

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<v Speaker 1>team they could compete with any one if they believed

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<v Speaker 1>and battled until the final buzzer, And that wraps it up.

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<v Speaker 1>Join us tomorrow and be sure to hit that subscribe

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<v Speaker 1>button so you never miss a daily slice of sports history.

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<v Speaker 1>This has been a quiet please studio's production. For more

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