Twenty unheralded college kids went in and beat the best players in the world.

The United States opened the first round against Sweden and the Americans found themselves trailing 2-1 in the final minute. Brooks pulled goalie Jim Craig for an extra attacker and with one second left Bill Baker scored to give the United States the tie.

The Americans rattled off four more victories coming from behind every time to advance to the medal round.

The situation looked grim. The Americans were matched against the powerhouse Soviet Union. The previous summer the Soviets had beaten a group of NHL All-Stars 6-0 in Madison Square Garden. Seven days before the Olympics the Soviets again took the ice at the Garden this time thumping the young U.S. Olympians 10-3 in an exhibition.

But this matchup would tell a different story. The Americans had a few wins and confidence under their belts. They had skated with and beaten some of the best teams in the world. And they had an entire nation behind them ready to see something special.

It was there some argue that the chant of "USA! USA!" was born.

The Soviets jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Buzz Schneider tied it up with an off-balance shot that got passed seemingly invincible goalie Vladislav Tretiak. The Soviets took the lead again but Mark Johnson got a wrist shot by Tretiak with one second left on the clock in the first period.

The score was tied 2-2. Tretiak was pulled after that goal.

The Soviets took their third lead of the game at 3-2 in the second period. It was the last time they found themselves on top.

Mark Johnson tied the game again with a power-play goal at 3-3 going into the third period.

In the third period team captain Mike Eruzione etched his name in sports immortality with his game-winning goal. The U.S. had a 4-3 advantage but 10 minutes remained on the clock. In those final 10 minutes Craig stopped shot after shot after shot preserving the upset victory that still resonates today.

Their job wasn't over though. They still had to beat Finland for the gold medal two days later and coming from behind again they did that. A 7-3 win sealed the deal. History had been made.

The victory was a testament to team play. Brooks had taken 20 young men and transformed them from a helter-skelter bunch into a well-oiled skating machine through rigorous drills and an unrelenting will.

He would not accept anything less than their best and for seven games they delivered.

Recently the team reconvened at Lake Placid for a reunion. It was there that the arena where the Miracle on Ice took place was renamed "1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena" in honor of the coach who had died in a car accident 18 months earlier.

As the years pass the distinctiveness of the Miracle grows. A handful of the players from that team went on to have meaningful careers in the NHL.

The last two winter Olympics saw each nation stock their team with professionals. There are no superpowers left in any sport never mind one on par with the Soviets from 1964-80. America is rarely the underdog anymore.

The event will probably never be equaled. But the memories will never go away and the Miracle lives on.

This story appeared on Page A2 of The Standard-Times on February 27 2005.