Why Is Herb Brooks Important In Hockey

The Miracle on ice was a memorable event that popularized hockey. In 1980, the youngest U.S.A. Olympic hockey team went up against the experienced Soviets. Considered the underdogs, the U.S.A. coach, Herbert Brooks worked to make the U.S.A. the most successful team on the rink. The miracle on ice became one of the defining moments in hockey history.

Herb Brooks was the coach of the 1980 U.S.A Olympic hockey team. “Minnesota-born Brooks began his hockey career in 1955 as a player at the University of Minnesota” (Carroll 20). Herb brooks bounced between semi-pro and Olympic teams. Before he became the coach, he was cut from the 1960 Olympic team. “He won a bronze medal with the U.S. hockey team at the 1962 World Championships and played for

“At 8:39 of the final frame, pandemonium erupted when the Red, White and Blue knotted the score at 3-all as Johnson tallied again”( Lake Placid Olympic Region). He walked off the bench not talking to anyone. He wanted to give them all the attention. Later on he got interviewed just like the players. “After the stunning gold medal victory at Lake Placid in 1980, Brooks coached in Switzerland for a year and then began a middling career as an NHL coach with the New York Rangers”( Carroll 20).

More than 10,000 people came to the game of the Soviet Union against the United States. The costs of the tickets were about $24.00 each. More than 1,500 people paid full price to just stand through the game. This game was not just to win. The game was a clash against two nations. Also the game was played on American soil which made the Soviet Union very upset.

By the last period, it was tied three to three. Suddenly, Mike Eruzione, number twenty-one, had a break away and scored a goal for the United States. Minutes later the game was over. That was the winning goal for the United States. The announcer later asked “Do you believe in