Do you believe in miracles? Yes!

Today is the 44th anniversary of America's "Miracle on Ice" Olympic hockey win over the Soviet Union.

On Feb. 22, 1980, the United States men’s national ice hockey team, consisting mainly of amateur and collegiate players, defeated a heavily favored Soviet Union national team in the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York. The stunning and symbolic 4-3 victory for the USA became known as the “Miracle on Ice,” and it’s still considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history.

U.S. hockey players celebrate on the ice after defeating the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

The “Miracle on Ice” was played during the height of the Cold War, and the Soviet Union, which had won five of the previous six Olympic gold medals, was considered the dominant force in international hockey. The United States team, on the other hand, was composed of young and relatively inexperienced players.

The game was not just a victory for the U.S. team, but a symbolic triumph of the underdog over a seemingly invincible opponent. The win was celebrated not just in the United States, but around the world, as a testament to the power of determination and the human spirit.

In the final seconds of the game, sportscaster Al Michaels famously exclaimed, "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" The phrase has since become synonymous with the game and is often used to describe other incredible and unexpected victories.

Two days after the “Miracle on Ice” game, the United States defeated Finland in the gold medal game, securing the first Olympic ice hockey gold medal for America since 1960.