For the younger set on this list. The first miracle on ice (Squaw Valley,
California 1960) was probably more improbable than the 1980 version. That
team was coached by Jack Riley of Army (present coach Rob's dad) and only one
player from that squad would have an NHL career. Up until the late 1970s
there only a handful of Americans in the entire NHL and no Europeans. That
the US can contend on a competitve leval with the world's best shows just how
far we have come in a short time. The defeat of  Russia (albeit the Russians
are a far cry from the Red Army juggernaut) was no longer an upset. SI in
their article seems to suggest that the gold medal game will be an important
catalyst for the growth of hockey south of the border (they characterized
hockey as the NASCAR of the North) and noted the godl medal game had an
incredible audience share (much more than the Stanley Cup)