An Olympic legend sent a clear message to the Americans as Team USA gears up for its gold medal game against Team Canada on Sunday morning.
Captain of the U.S. men’s hockey team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics, Mike Eruzione, stated three bold words that sent chills down the spines of American hockey fans everywhere.
“It is time,” said Eruzione to USA Hockey, harkening back to his late coach, Herb Brooks, words portrayed in the movie “Miracle” by actor Kurt Russell.
“This is your time,” said Brooks, per Russell’s reenactment.
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Puck drop between the Americans and Canadians is set for 8:10 a.m. ET, with drama building since each team’s respective semifinal win on Friday. Team USA took down Team Slovakia 6-2, while Team Canada defeated Team Finland 3-2 to advance to the championship matchup.
“This is the best hockey team we’ve ever put on the ice,” added Eruzione, who has been in Milan throughout the tournament. “The best men’s team that has ever played. They’re talented, they’re gifted, they’re skilled, they’re young, which is good.”
In some cases, it may be difficult for athletes to celebrate the success of others set to supplant them in the annals of history. However, for Eruzione and his companions on that 1980 team, they are yearning for another American champion on the ice.
“My teammates and I want this moment,” said Eruzione. “We want these guys to achieve something.”
He continued, “What we did is what we did. It’s over. It’s ended. It was 40-something years ago. My grandkids need their hockey heroes, and it’s going to be this team, I believe it. This is an opportunity for them to realize their dream.
“I’ve heard many of these players, and I know most of them talk about when they were kids, that they watched ‘Miracle.’ This isn’t a miracle. This is a team that deserves to be in the gold-medal game, and a team that can win it.”
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Sunday’s gold medal game will be Team USA’s first appearance in the Olympic final since the 2010 Vancouver Games, when Team Canada pushed past the Americans 3-2 in overtime.
The Canadians last appeared in the final in 2014, which was the last year NHL players were permitted to play at the Winter Games. They won that matchup 3-0 over Team Sweden in Sochi, while Team USA failed to earn a medal. Team Canada has won nine of the 23 men’s hockey gold medals awarded in the history of the Winter Games.
The championship contest will be broadcast by NBC and Peacock, with Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk and Brian Boucher on the call. Two injured players will be worth monitoring before the opening face-off, as Team Canada’s Sidney Crosby has been deemed a game-time decision and Team USA’s Tage Thompson is expected to play, as both are dealing with lower-body injuries.
