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One of the fastest games in the world, ice hockey has seen some very impressive performances by the Americans. Those matches have been etched forever in the history of American ice hockey and they have gone a long way in popularizing the sport in the US. These matches have made all of America proud. America’s best ice hockey matches can be a source of inspiration for all of us as on many occasions, the Americans came out victorious despite being the underdogs. We have picked a few such matches that saw the Americans emerge triumphant despite the odds stacked against them.
A Miracle Unfolds on Ice
This match is now a part of American ice hockey folklore. The Americans had a bunch of college kids representing them at the 1980 Olympics and they were up against the might of the all-conquering Soviets.
Inspired by their coach Herb Brooks, the Americans stunned all by beating their cold war rivals despite trailing 2-3 at one stage.
Mike Eruzione who had never played an NHL match before scored the winning goal.
This was one inspired performance the sporting world shall never forget.
The Women Clinch the 1998 Olympic Gold
It was a fierce rivalry between the Canadians and the Americans and the former were the favorites.
Yet, it was the Americans who triumphed again beating all odds. The final goal was scored by Sandra Whyte and her team outperformed the Canadians 36-8 in the Nagano Games.
While the Canadians went on to win all the Olympic ice hockey gold medals since then that one victory remains a landmark in the history of American ice hockey. It saw the induction of the entire team into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.
Victory at the 1996 World Cup
The 1996 World Cup victory inspired another generation of hockey players in America just as the 1980 win did.
True, this was no rag-tag team like what the US fielded in 1980, yet the way they came back from a one-game deficit against the mighty Canadians on their soil surprised one and all.
In a best-of-three series, the Canadians were upstaged by the Americans who won two games on the trot despite losing the first. It set the ball rolling for what team America would accomplish in the years ahead.
The 2014 Sochi Shootout
After the first three players are done, a team can use any player it chooses multiple times as per the rules.
The American coach Dan Bylsma took full advantage of that and kept sending Oshie who converted four of the six shots he took.
Oshie’s sterling performance gave the Americans a coveted victory against the Russians on their soil with Vladimir Putin in attendance.
Conclusion
Sporting success has through the ages inspired both individuals and entire nations. The ice hockey matches we have picked inspired entire generations of Americans and apart from popularizing the sport, these matches helped build self-belief in the American youth.
Victory against stronger opponents, especially the mighty Soviets in 1980 led Americans to believe that they could strive for more and achieve it as well. These victories go much beyond the hockey arena. They helped mold winners among Americans.
