Last week there was a Miracle in the White House. That is because thirteen members of the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team visited into the Oval Office wearing white cowboy hats, a callback to what they donned during the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
The men, along with several family members, stood behind President Donald Trump as he celebrated their historic achievement at those Winter Games.
“Forty-five years ago, this tremendous group of collegiate players and amateurs faced overwhelming odds against the Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics,” Trump said during the ceremony.
The American team famously defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union in a game that became known as the Miracle on Ice. To honor the team’s achievement, Trump pulled out a black marker and signed the Congressional Gold Medal Act into law. “It’s a great achievement,” Trump said as he signed the bill and handed the marker to team captain Mike Eruzione.
Eruzione captained the 1980 squad and scored the game-winning goal against the Soviets. He said it was an honor to compete for Team USA and to now be recognized by both Congress and the President.
“I’ve always said the gold medal is incredible, but this is frosting on the cake,” Eruzione said. “To receive an award like this, an honor like this—this is it. I don’t think there’s anything else we can get.”
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor awarded to civilians by Congress. Past recipients include Neil Armstrong, Robert Frost, and groups such as the Navajo Code Talkers. The Miracle on Ice team’s medal was co-sponsored by Minnesota Republican Pete Stauber and New York Republican Elise Stefanik.
Stefanik stood beside Trump during the ceremony, drawing attention when the president praised her work in Congress. Trump noted that Stefanik is running for governor of New York, though he has not formally endorsed her. Long Island Republican Bruce Blakeman is expected to challenge Stefanik in the primary next spring, which Trump acknowledged during the event.