USA Hockey Magazine called them "The Original Golden Boys of Hockey," and they truly WERE. Before Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Mark Johnson and "The Miracle On Ice," in 1980 there were the Cleary brothers, Bill and Bob...the Christian brothers, Roger and Bill... John Mayasich, Jack McCartan,
Jack Kirraine and the entire U.S. Olympic hockey team that truly MADE Olympic hockey history. I can only fault very poor media coverage for the lack of attention paid to this great group of players. That and the poor job of the Olympic publicity department and scheduling committee who paid no notice to the USA hockey team as they racked up victories over the powerhouse countries. (More on this scheduling gaff later).
Regardless, poor media coverage and lack of attention can never tarnish the achievements of this "immortal" bunch of young men. Those idividuals, who comprised one of the greatest U.S. hockey teams in history weren't just some of the best American players of their generation but...OF ALL TIME. John Mayasich and Bill Cleary, members of the USA Hockey "All Time" team would be household names if they played today. Mayasich, University of Minnesota and Cleary of Harvard, set scoring records for their respective schools that still stand today.
Before I go on to more side stories of the team let me visit, briefly, the playing of the two most important games for our heroes...the 3-2 victory over Russia and the 9-4 win over Czechoslovakia. for the gold medal. (Not the blowout you might imagine)
No U.S. team had ever beaten the Russians, who the world had long ago considered professionals because that's all they did in Mother Russia was play hockey (for a living). This was also an important game because Russia and the USA were still embroiled in the "cold war." Team Russia may have appeared a little arrogant at the start of the game but very quickly realized they were in for the battle of their life with our guys.
My friends and I hadn't paid much attention to the games until the Russian game. We were not dyed in the wool Olympic hockey fans but, as this game went on, we were "captured." Russia took a 2-1 lead in the first period but, the tough, hard-nosed way our guys played, gave us hope and, yes, an incredible sense of pride. We tied the game in the second period and early in the third period WENT AHEAD. We all went wild and couldn't believe it but the Russians, who were really professionals, did not let up. Rather, they seemed to really "pour it on." Every trip up and down the ice was a "heart in your mouth" adventure. (Years later, while watching the movie, "Indiana Jones," I recalled the same feeling as he escaped constantly disaster). When our guys finally prevailed we let out a yell and couldn't wait for the championship game the next day against mighty Czechoslovakia.
Now let me return to the Olympic scheduling committees "blunder" as I mentioned earlier. Not even giving the USA a thought they scheduled Russia and Canada for the prime time TV spot at 2:00 in the afternoon. The USA game, for the gold medal, was played at 8:00 AM. Outrageous to say the least but who cared. Our guys were GOIN FOR THE GOLD.
Talk about a battle, this was a WAR. We were down 4-3 going into the third, and final, period. This was every bit as hard fought as the Russian's game. Would we be able to pull it out? A 6-0 barrage, highlighted by a hat trick by Roger Christian brought the USA our VERY FIRST hockey gold medal. You had to be there to believe it. Yes, we all went to Mass at St. Anthony's Shrine after the game.
Best Goalie of the Olympics was our Jack McCartan. Top ten scorers numbered Bill Cleary (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points), Bill Christian (2 goals, 11 assists, 13 points) and John Mayasich (7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points). Head Coach was Jack Riley who had to make some real tough decisions, all of which DID contribute greatly to the win. One of which was cutting Herb Brooks (1980 head coach) a week before the games to make room for Bob Cleary who had just gotten married. This almost caused some troubles with the players but Brooks, in true TEAM spirit, knew it was best and put an end to any problems. (History has proven what an exceptional person Herb Brooks truly was.)
Forgotten through the years was the fact that the players had to leave their jobs (without pay) and then pay their own expenses out of their own pockets. Of course there were many contributors but they didn't cover all the expenses. THAT'S when the Olympics were truly an amateur endeavor.
"I couldn't try out for the Olympic team at first because I had just gotten married and started an insurance business," said Bob Cleary. When coach Riley asked my brother Bill and I to join the team it was just amazing. The opening ceremonies and walking in with my team representing the USA is still the greatest honor I've ever been a part of. I just "tingle" whenever I think of it. And then to see Jack Kirrane (team captain) standing at the podium receiving the gold medal...there's nothing like it.
Dave Christian of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" team is the son of Bill and nephew of Roger Christian who were on the 1960 team. They, and John Mayasich, are all from a small town in Minnesota called "Warroad." (true name) which is known as the "Hockey capitol of the USA." Their claim is that..... "No USA Olympic Hockey team has ever won the gold medal without a Christian on the team." Since we've only won those two I guess that's right...so far.
Trivia note.....Captain of that powerfull Canada team was...HARRY SINDEN. Yup, the Bruins exec.
NOTE:---Anyone wanting to see those 1960 Olympic games...look for it on Google. They can be had.
TRIVIA question.....Who was the first world heavyweight boxing champion to win the heavyweight olympic gold medal? Also who was the first heavyweight champion of the world to have won an olympic gold medal? Interesting, isn't it? Stay tuned.....