Hockey Skates used by Phil Verchota of the U.S. Hockey Team during the 1980 Winter Olympics

Hockey Skates used by Phil Verchota of the U.S. Hockey Team during the 1980 Winter Olympics

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Description
These skates were worn by Phil Verchota (number 27), a member of the underdog 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that astounded the world by capturing the Gold Medal at Lake Placid, New York. While it was the win against the Finns that cinched the Gold, the defeat of the Soviet team in the semifinals — known as the "miracle on ice" — captured the hearts and imaginations of Americans during a time of cold war tensions.
The 1980 Winter Olympics, also known as the Games of the XIII Olympiad were held in Lake Placid, New York with 37 countries, 840 men and 232 women athletes participating. These Games are famous for the “Miracle on Ice” hockey team which consisted of American college hockey players competing against the more experienced and professional Russian team amongst the backdrop of the cold war. The Americans beat the Russians to move into the medal round beating Finland for the Gold but it was the game where they beat Russia which is most remembered and where announcer Al Michaels asked all American if they believed in miracles. US Speed skater Eric Heiden dominated the speed skating event winning gold in all five events, the only athlete in the Winter games to do so. The Soviet Union won the medal count with 22 with the United States coming in third with 12 medals.
Location
Currently on loan
Object Name
ice skates, hockey
hockey skates, olympics
date made
1980
user
Verchota, Phil
associated institution
U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
maker
Bauer
place made
Canada
Physical Description
leather (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
metal (overall material)
nylon (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 12 in x 11 3/4 in; 30.48 cm x 29.845 cm
ID Number
1984.0940.04
accession number
1984.0940
catalog number
1984.0940.04
Credit Line
Sports Illustrated
subject
Ice Hockey
Amateur
Sports
Olympics
related event
Olympic Winter Games: Lake Placid, 1980
See more items in
Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

"Verchota provided offensive punch from the left wing of the Mark Wells-led fourth line. Verchot logged single points in five of the seven Olympic games, with the most important being a third-period goal against Finland that pulled the U.S. into a 2-2 tie and sterred them toward gold. Verchota took a feed from Dave Christian and slapped a 15-footer past Finnish netminder Jorma Valtonen, a 33-year old veteran who had made several specatcular saves earlier in the game."

George

Thu, 2013-07-18 14:54

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