President Donald Trump welcomed members of the legendary 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team, known for the iconic “Miracle on Ice,” to the White House on Friday.

The occasion? A special bill-signing ceremony awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress.

Thirteen surviving team members attended the Oval Office event, many donning white cowboy hats—a nod to the headgear worn by the U.S. team during the opening ceremonies of the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

Among those present were captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, Buzz Schneider, and representatives from the family of the late coach Herb Brooks.

Trump signed the “Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act” (H.R. 452), authorizing the striking of three gold medals to commemorate the team’s stunning 4-3 upset victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union on February 22, 1980—a moment that captivated the nation amid Cold War tensions and boosted American morale.

New gold medals for the Miracle on Ice team

President Trump recognized the “Miracle on Ice” as one of the greatest moments in the history of American sports.

“This is very exciting. This is one of the greatest moments in the history of U.S. sports,” the President said. “I wouldn’t say, maybe, for other countries, they weren’t so thrilled. But for U.S. sports, and we have a very exciting team of champions standing behind me right now.”

In a lighthearted moment, Eruzione presented Trump with a replica of the iconic white cowboy hat from the 1980 Games, which the president promptly donned to applause and laughter from the group.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers described the event as a celebration of “American greatness,” noting the triumph’s enduring legacy in inspiring generations and transforming hockey in the United States.

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Remembering the miracle

It’s been a long journey. Not just from 1980, of course. Bounding into Sports reported on the effort to award the “Miracle on Ice” team with new gold medals last year.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award our country offers, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. How fitting that it goes to a scrappy group of amateur collegiate hockey players who took on and defeated the heavily favored Soviet Union team.

The legislation awards three such medals – one to be displayed at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota, another at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, and the third at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

They will honor members of the American team “in recognition of their extraordinary achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympics.”

The “Miracle on Ice” is widely considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history. It is akin to somebody having beaten the Dream Team with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in 1992.

Its significance was even greater when you consider the world affairs between Russia and the United States at the time.

The U.S. team’s unexpected triumph came amid Cold War tensions, making the win a symbol of American power and resilience. And man, it made for great drama. Who can forget Coach Herb Brooks’s speech?

Or, of course, the call by broadcaster Al Michaels, whose iconic exclamation during the final moments of the stunning 4-3 upset over Russia – “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” – has become part of sports lore.

Following the defeat of the Soviets, the U.S. team went on to win the gold medal by beating Finland, cementing the “Miracle” game as one of the greatest upsets in sports history.