Well this is very exciting. This is one of the greatest moments in the history of US sports, I would say. Maybe for other countries they weren't so thrilled, but for US sports and... and we have a very exciting team of champions standing behind me. Uh, Mr. Attorney, can you read what we're doing right now and let's get it done?
Yes, sir. This is HR 452, the Miracle on Ice Bill. The United States Congress has authorized three medals to be struck commemorating the historic victory of the United States men's hockey team in 1980 at the Lake Placid Olympics, where they obviously defeated the Russians and the Soviet Union, excuse me, in the famous Miracle on Ice hockey game. Uh, this will serve as a fitting commemoration of that incredible achievement and will hopefully uh, be a lasting memorial of that achievement going forwards.
This was an amazing event. Pretty big, uh, I mean I don't know, there were some other upsets in the world. I haven't noticed them getting any of these, this is the only one. That's great. And we don't use auto-pens here. This is a great achievement. Okay, wait a minute. There you go, Pete. Take that. [01:14] Thank you, sir. So great. Most of these people are too young to remember, but all sports fans know it. Thank you very much, it's a great honor to have the media too. We're delighted to be joined today by two legends of American sports history and heroes for the entire nation, the 1980 US Olympic ice hockey team. Uh, this was one of the biggest moments that I've ever seen in sports, and I like sports. These are the men who gave us one of the most storied athletic wins of all time. It's called the Miracle on Ice, and I guess that's what it was. We're with us today by players like Jim Craig, Steve Janaszak, Bill Baker, Dave Christian, Ken Morrow, Jack O'Callahan, Mike Ramsey, Neal Broten, Mike Eruzione, Rob McClanahan, Buzz Schneider, Dave Silk, Phil Verchota, and numerous others. And what I'd love you to do, you know, when you have all of these media people, it's a nice slow afternoon, nothing's too slow around here. I think we just did a... very good job with Thailand and Cambodia. We had them stopped and I've been saying I've stopped eight wars, but they started shooting at each other two days ago, it wasn't good. And we got it, I think, straightened out today. So Thailand and Cambodia is in good shape. So we get a lot done. Eight wars, nobody's ever stopped eight wars. We have one more to go. Uh, the easiest one I thought would be a country that you're somewhat familiar with, Russia and uh, Ukraine. But uh, we're a lot of progress is being made even there. Could I ask you to just say your name and if you have anything to say, you could say that also, and then we'll get on with reading some of the stats.
Yeah, my name's Ryan Suter, I'm here representing my dad, Bob, who passed away. Um, it's a true honor for me to be a part of this and thank these guys for allowing me to be a part of their team and thank you for having this and hosting us.
Your father was some player. Incredible player. Do you uh, did you ever play ice hockey?
I did, yeah.
Well let me ask you, tell them how good was he compared to his father? Don't ask, don't answer.
Mr. President, Ryan just played 21 years in the NHL. He played 1500 games in the NHL.
So, uh, pretty comfortable, the rest? Better? You think better? You can say.
His dad was tougher.
I heard he might be. Dad was tougher, you're right. Dad was tougher, definitely tougher. But you got good genetics. That's good. You had a great career. How long did you play?
I played 21 years.
Wow. Well you look pretty good for a guy who played 21 years in that business. Congratulations. And great father. Great father.
Um, I'm Taria Lewis, and I'm here representing my dad, Mark Pavelich. Um, he, I'm so honored to be here. Um, I just, I'm at a loss for words, to be honest, like I can't believe this is real. And I want to say to you, President Trump, I know so many people from Duluth, Minnesota, that love you. And I just, yes, yes, thank you for having us here. So, yeah.
Thank you. And you had a great father. A great, great player. So amazing. Thank you very much, really very good, sir. Thank you very much. Thank you for being here. Please, go ahead.
I'm Ken Morrow. Uh, it's an honor to meet you, Mr. President. What a great win for our country and... if people don't remember, that's where the USA, USA chants started in Lake Placid.
That's right. Yeah. I tried to take credit for that. You had to bring that up! That's the end of that. That's alright, thank you very much.
Hi, I'm Jim Craig and uh, it's an honor to be here. I'm so proud of all my teammates and what we were able to accomplish for our country. And when you get a chance to represent your country, whether it's in the military or in sports, and you can do something really special like our team did and then be recognized many years later. So, Mr. President, I want to thank you for your courage that you show the country every single day and for uh, making our country safe again.
Thank you. Yeah, we... we're doing that. I appreciate that very much. I didn't know you were on that team! Wait, was he on the team? I was the trainer! He was a trainer! Greatest player, thank you for being here. He's doing a great job.
Buzz Schneider. Uh, Mr. President, thanks for having us here. Thanks Congressman Stauber for writing the legislation, along with Elise Stefanik and Tom Emmer. Uh, it's a privilege to be here and you've accomplished a wonderful thing and I will say that uh, I got 19 beautiful people I did it with, it was awesome. All good, solid people. Thank you. Thanks again.
They are. They have to be solid to play that. Please.
Hi, I'm Neal Broten from Minnesota. Thank you, Mr. Trump, it's an honor. Um, you're celebrating us and uh, I can't believe I'm even here. It's... unbelievable.
It's an amazing office. It's... unbelievable. Everybody that comes here they can... the biggest people in the world, they come into this place and they go 'Wow, the Oval Office.' The most... it's the most important office anywhere in the world, not even close. Thank you very much.
Mr. President, Mike Eruzione. Um, on behalf of the team, we have a replica hat that we wore the opening ceremonies uh, in Lake Placid. We'd like you to have that. And more importantly, uh, I don't think words can explain how proud we are of what you've done for our team. Thank you very much. Let's see what do I do with that strap?
Remember a certain governor in Massachusetts when they put that helmet on, that was not good. Mike Dukakis. They put that helmet on, that was the end of his political career. Okay. That's... but the honor that you've bestowed upon our team is something that's incredible. Thank you very much, I feel it. Thank you.
Mr. President, I'm Jack O'Callahan from Charlestown, Mass. And uh, grew up on the battlefield of uh, where the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought and that's where it all started. And uh, thank you so much for having us here. We're a bunch of proud Americans and uh, we're thrilled to be in your presence, sir.
Thank you very much. I'm thrilled to be with you guys. Winners, champions.
Mr. President, my name is Dave Silk and like Jack said, I'm a proud American. Thank you for having us here and thank you to all that put this on for us. Well, I'm honored to be here.
Thank you, that's really nice. Thank you.
Mr. President, Bill Baker, I'm from Minnesota. I know that right now that doesn't ring very well with all of you, but hopefully we can get that turned around.
Do we have Somalis on the team? I don't think so. Any Somalis on the team? I don't think so. Ilhan Omar. The pride we felt in uh, 1980 was incredible, and we are starting to feel that again thanks to your leadership. Thank you very much. [08:44] Well you know Minnesota's a great place and this is a great leader right here from Minnesota. He loves it. Not happy with what's going up there, and I... I think he'll take care of that situation. We're all with you. With your help we can. You have my help. What's happening up there is a disgrace. It's a disgrace. Billions of dollars have been stolen. Billions, sent back to Somalia. And uh, Tom can solve that problem better than anybody. And you have the go-ahead, right?
Yes, sir. Thank you very much.
And what do you think of this team?
Like, this is the team that set the whole tone for this country back in 1980. It was the beginning of the great comeback which, by the way, Donald J. Trump was the next beginning of the great comeback. So it's perfect that it's both you and this uh, great team from 1980.
Thank you, Tom. You're doing a fantastic job. Really a great leader, we appreciate it, friend. And Jackie is uh... have a great spouse, remember, that's a key. That's true, that's what I heard. Yeah, yeah. And Elise, everybody knows Elise, she's doing phenomenally well, a really tremendous congresswoman and she's running for a little position called Governor of New York and uh, she's got a hell of a shot at it. That's all I can see. I see polls that look very good. And we uh... we could use you in New York. She's got a little competition with a very good Republican, but uh, she's a great Republican. So, we'll see what happens. But Elise is respected by everybody, we appreciate it. Thanks, Elise.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. And as the representative for Lake Placid, this is so meaningful to my constituents, and we are home of the Miracle on Ice and it's wonderful to be here with these teammates who just stood so proudly for Team USA.
Thank you, thank you, Elise. Please.
Uh, my name is Dan Brooks, I am the son of coach Herb Brooks. Uh, it's an honor to be here, Mr. President. Uh, my dad, he believed. Uh, he believed in the American hockey player, uh, he believed in his country. He loved this team, he loved his country. I wish he was here, but it's an honor for me to represent him, so thank you for having us.
Well your father was a great guy, I knew him a little bit and uh, he was an amazing coach. What he did was just incredible. He was tough, but fair. He was tough. Was he tough on you? Yeah, about 20 years. But good, I would say, my father was tough too. My father was tough, but good, right? They were good people. It was an honor to be his son. Thank you very much, yep. He'd be very proud of you right now.
Rob McClanahan from Minnesota. Uh, I'm just echoing everybody else's words, it's an honor to be here and it's an honor to be a teammate of this great team. We had... it's all about we, and we're a great team.
Yeah, that was a per... really a perfect case of it. Yep. That team was a perfect case. Please.
Um, I'm honored to be here, I'm representing my brother Mark who died in 2024. I know he's looking down with a big smile on his face. Great player. Yeah. And I'm sure, I am honored and I know he would be too. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Uh, Mr. Trump, Dave Christian from Warroad, Minnesota, Hockeytown USA. Is it still? It is still. Is it? It's still is. Well, it's a privilege and an honor to be here with the greatest teammates anyone could have. Yeah. Thank you very much. Great honor, great job.
Mr. President, Mike Ramsey, I'm also from Minnesota. And uh, Minneapolis, not Hockeytown Minnesota. It's an honor to be here with my teammates and you, uh, this is awesome. Thank you. Great to have you, thank you very much.
Mr. President, Steve Janaszak, also from Minnesota, White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Right. It's not as big as it sounds. Uh, I backed up Jimmy Craig and want to thank all you guys for the job that you did. Uh, pleasure to be a part of this team and the luckiest guy on this team. Yeah. Well, Jimmy Craig was uh, pretty good, right? Incredible goaltending and he did an awesome job. He was pretty good. Yeah, he was great. Thank you very much, great honor.
Whoa, I didn't know we had to talk. What do you think, Phil? We all got one word. Speechless, of course, but uh, I'm Phil Verchota, originally from Duluth, Minnesota and uh, certainly like all the other gentlemen here, uh, are... we're having a wonderful, wonderful day and just seeing the history of Washington DC and you know, the invitation and the and the award is uh, beyond beyond what I could imagine.
Well it's an honor, and so many people from Minnesota, that's something. Great hockey, good hockey blood, huh? Oh yeah. Not so many people, a lot of the team. Congratulations. And Minnesota's going to be back, right? It better be back. Going to be back. You got a little bad governor up there and a couple of little other problems, but it's going to be back. And unbelievable people in Minnesota. 45 years ago, this tremendous group of collegiate players and amateurs faced overwhelming odds against the Soviet Union in Lake Placid winter Olympics. They said it was the greatest team ever put together, the Soviet team. They weren't saying that about you, but you were damn good. They were saying that team was unbeatable. The same month, the USSR's hockey team had crushed our squad. They did a, I guess an exhibition game of some kind, and it was not pretty, 10 to 3. And uh, people were not even looking forward to this game, fellas, I hate to tell you. They liked it that last 10 minutes were not fun. The Soviets had not lost an Olympic game since 1968 and they were coming off a four-straight gold record, four gold medals, in '64 they won the gold, '68, '72, and '76. Other than that they weren't that good, right? They were great. And this was supposed to be the best team that they ever had. So it wasn't uh, looking too sharp for our great champions behind me. As one American sports writer put it at the time, 'the whole world expected the Soviets to win,' quote, 'unless the ice melts.' So that wasn't a very good statement. But then it began, despite the long odds, the Team USA blazed through the group stage, beating other countries, went through them pretty easily, advancing to a long-awaited rematch against the USSR. Three times we went down by a goal. For most of the game they were down by a goal, three times, and then remarkable players put America back on top where we've always wanted to be. Buzz Schneider, he uh, scored the opening goal with a slap shot from 50 feet. That's a big slap shot. How's that? Look at him over there. That's a big... how the hell did that happen? Was the goal... I thought they had a good goal. They did have a good goal with the pass came across the ice I caught it going the other way and it just happened, right? Miracle they called it. Well thank you, so a long one, that's a good one. How often does a 50-foot shot go in? Not too much, huh? That one did. Well you have a little extra power, you're strong. You were a strong guy. That goal was... that's something. That puck was hit. We have a puck here. Does this mean anything or is this just something they just gave me? SC hockey pucks for the team. Oh that's good. I'll put it here on top of piece of gold. In the second period, Jim Craig withstood a barrage of shots on goal and kept the dream alive, that's the guy, right? And then after a goal from team captain Mike Eruzione, who's a fantastic guy, I know him from outside of hockey we play golf, we were on a golf team together and we happened to win, right? We did, sir. Yes we did. I liked my partner very much. But he put us up 4 to 3 midway through the third. These fighters held on to the longest 10 minutes of their lives. They call it the longest, most horrendous, scariest 10 minutes. Is that true? Absolutely the longest. Because you couldn't believe that you were there and they're leading by one and they got 10 minutes of just please. Did anybody pray? Were you praying? Doing everything. Didn't have time to pray. I don't think you had a lot of time. Just had to go out and play. They're religious guys, but they didn't have a lot of time to pray, they were out on the ice. Uh, but to win one of the greatest comebacks in sports history really was amazing. The observers uh, in the arena noted it was the first time in his life that he heard the chant USA, USA, USA, which I don't like hearing because I tell people that that had to do with Trump in 2016. Slightly different, slightly after your big win, but no longer that's the end of that, right? I can't use that one anymore. But I do remember them doing that exactly, for a long time they were doing that. This team united us and they inspired us, the United States was like brought to a level that of sports that they've never seen, and they brought this Olympic glory that we celebrate to this day. Nobody thought it was possible. It really shows that, you know, anything's possible. Nobody thought that one was possible. But I want to congratulate you all. And now I'd like to invite Mike to say a few words, and then Congressman Stauber, who introduced, and then we're going to speak uh, from a couple of other people and I have to tell you our leader, I have to say that uh, Emmer is a very special leader and I want you to maybe wrap it up and uh, say something on behalf of your great state in particular, the country, but your great state in particular, okay? So let's go, Mike.
Just again, Mr. President, to reiterate what we've all talked about, this is uh, an absolutely incredible honor. I've said this before, but when you put a USA jersey on, uh, you're playing for your country, you're not playing for your state, your town or your city. And what an honor it was for us to put that jersey on and accomplish what we accomplished. Uh, I've always said the gold medal is something that's incredible, but this is the frosting on the cake. Uh, to receive an award like this and an honor like this, uh, maybe that's the... this is it, guys. I don't think... I don't think there's anything else we can get. There's nothing else. No, this is it and and thank you for for making this happen.
Great, thank you, Mike. Thanks. Pete.
Mr. President, um, thank you for uh, signing this piece of legislation. Uh, I first want to say uh, on behalf of uh, of Congress I want to thank uh, Elise Stefanik and Tom Emmer for being co-sponsors uh, of this piece of legislation. Uh, I also want to thank my staff, uh, Allie Esau in my office did a tremendous job getting this uh, uh, you know, to be able to pass the House and the Senate. I want to thank my staff. And Mr. President, uh, it was 45 years ago Friday February 22nd, 1980 that the game of hockey changed. Uh, it was a 5 p.m. game, it was tape-delayed. Those of us that were hockey players back then, this was a game-changer. We couldn't find that USA jersey anywhere. Uh, we it was sold out wherever it was. And so I'm I'm I'm very proud to have led this, and I would be remiss if I didn't uh, introduce uh, my younger brother Rob, who was uh, the gold medal coach for the 2018 women's Olympic gold medal team in Pyeongchang. And Robby's right over there.