A few thoughts on Olympic hockey

Congratulations to the United States Men’s and Women’s Olympic Hockey Teams for their silver medal victories this past week. Olympic hockey has always had a special place in my heart ever since I had the unique opportunity to see it first hand while officiating the 1979 Olympic trials in Colorado Springs. The team selected from those players would ultimately go on to win the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics’ “Miracle on Ice.”

At that time in 1979, the Olympics were still considered to be amateur sports and the U.S. team was compromised almost exclusively of college age players. At the trials, the 80 top Americans came to Colorado Springs and we all lived together at dormitories at the Olympic training center. As I recall, it was the site of a former air base, just a few miles away for the U.S. Air Force Academy where most of the events were hosted.

During the trials that summer, players were broken down into teams by region – Central, Northeast, Midwest, and West. These tournament teams were all coached by the top college coaches in the country, including the legendary Charlie Holt from the University of New Hampshire, who I knew from my days at Bowdoin College.

I knew a few of the Northeast players as well, including Brian Walsh, who was my roommate’s cousin, and had been captain of the Notre Dame University team. Brian ultimately did not make the team, with Mike Eruzione selected over him. Eruzione would go on to captain the U.S. team to a win over the Soviets and on to a gold medal.

During the tournament, the games had a remarkable level of intensity. Players were fighting hard to make the travel team from which the finalists to represent our nation in the Olympics would be picked. During the tournaments, I distinctly remember Herb Brooks – who coached the U.S. team – as a quiet but deliberate presence.

I remember at the close of the tournament, I was sitting on a porch looking out at the mountains when I was joined by one of the players, who I didn’t recognize at the time. It was a tense moment in the tryout period, as all of the players were anxiously awaiting to learn whether or not they had been selected for the team. I asked the player if he had learned yet if he had made the team. As it turned out, he had, and he told me how thrilled he was. That player was Jim Craig, the goaltender who would lead the team to victory a few months later.

As good as the U.S. team was, no one truly believed this group of amateur players stood much of a chance against the Soviets, which was widely considered the best hockey team in the world. Of course, the U.S. team would go on to defeat the Soviets, and the rest is history.

To this day, whenever I watch Olympic hockey, I will always think back to the incredible opportunity I had to be part of history and see the 1980 team at its formation. It is impressive how far U.S. hockey has come over the past 30 years. This year’s Olympic team and the dramatic final game was a fitting tribute to the continued dedication of our American players and the hockey program here in the United States.

Part of my love for Olympic hockey is the pride and intensity of the players who take up the mantle of their country. This year’s team showed that same die-hard spirit and class of those gold medal winners in 1980.

Congratulations to all of the players, coaches and staff who played a role in this impressive Olympic showing. And thank you. You made us proud!