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‘USA, USA’: Relive miracle 30 years later Kevin Blaum In The Arena

Sunday February 14, 2010 | 12:00 AM

MUCH OF the world watched as the XXI Winter Olympics got under way in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Friday night.

But today we mark the 30th anniversary of the moment the Olympic flame began brightly burning high above Lake Placid, N.Y. It marked the thrilling commencement of the XIII Winter Olympic Games.

Every Olympiad has its extraordinary moments etched forever in the history of Olympic glory. But in 1980, in the midst of a cold war, Lake Placid produced a “miracle.” Three decades later, from Haiti and beyond, it reverberates: “USA, USA”.

As the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Games came to a close on Thursday, Feb. 14, the U.S. men’s ice hockey team already had tied Sweden on Tuesday and defeated Czechoslovakia 7-3 earlier in the day. On those same two occasions, however, the Soviet Union (USSR) had crushed Japan 16-0 and the Netherlands 17-4.

With subsequent U.S. ice hockey wins over Norway on Saturday, Romania on Monday and West Germany on Wednesday, Feb. 20, America earned a spot in the medal round of international ice hockey. Earth’s Final Four.

The United States and Sweden, with identical 4-0-1 records, would represent the blue division. Sweden earned the No. 1 seed, having scored 26 goals to 25 for the Americans. That meant the United States would have to face the red division’s top-seeded USSR in the semifinals on Friday. Sweden would play Finland. The victors and vanquished would meet on Sunday, Feb. 24, to compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

You know the outcome. You get chills just thinking about it.

Ironically, the men’s U.S. National Ice Hockey team also competed at the 1979 World Championships in Moscow. It featured a 33-year-old forward on the right wing who knew as much about ice hockey and hockey talent as anyone on the planet. The team was coached by the immortal Herb Brooks.

Brooks also wanted to coach our 1980 Olympic team. He had a system he believed in, a plan that might work and he asked his aging forward to join him as assistant coach of the Olympic team. Craig Patrick said yes.

Patrick went on to become general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins. His brother Glenn was the first coach of our AHL Penguins and he is now the head ice hockey coach at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston.

Brooks, Patrick and the USA Olympic ice hockey team received their gold medals. The following day, President Carter sent Air Force One to pick them up and fly everyone to Washington, D.C., for a reception at the White House.

Afterwards the president’s plane transported each team member back to his home state. Air Force One made stops in Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin and St. Paul, Minn. Imagine what it was like.

Oh, to relive those moments, 30 years later, counting down the seconds, with Al Michaels, in a large crowd loudly cheering, “U-S-A.”

Well, you can.

On Tuesday evening the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and WBRE-TV will host the 30th anniversary of this Olympic miracle at the F.M. Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Craig Patrick will be there.

Following a 6 p.m. presentation of the movie “Miracle,” Coach Patrick will relive the experience by answering questions from the audience.

Reached at his home in Pittsburgh recently, Patrick said, “It will be a special evening. Thirty years. I’m glad it’s in Wilkes-Barre. I love the region, the fans and all the people. It reminds me so much of my own home.”

Contact the Penguins at 208-PENS for tickets and relive the moment.

“Again. Again. Again.” – Herb Brooks (1937-2003)