"Miracle on Ice" Speech
2004 movie re-inactment of Coach Brooks' famous pre-game speech to team
Herb Brooks was the coach of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team. On the night of February 22nd, the gold medal match between America and the Soviet Union. The Soviets had a much better record and were much more favored to win the match due to the incredible skill that their team had. However, before the game, Coach Brooks gave this famous locker room pep-talk: "Great moments are born from great opportunity, and that's what you have here tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game; if we played them ten times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players—every one of you, and you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it!" That game became known as the Miracle on Ice. That title was given because the clear underdogs who many thought had no chance in even keeping the game close with their opponents pulled together, and with extreme heart and dedication, won the Olympic Gold Medal. This speech has been repeated to multiple sports teams as a pep-talk, and is considered to be one of the leading factors to the United States' victory in the Miracle on Ice game.