Jack Riley

Mercyhurst University today announced a series of academic program adjustments and the discontinuation of its Division I Men’s Ice Hockey program.

On this day in history in 1960, at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, the underdog U.S. Men’s hockey team, made up of college players and amateurs, defeated the powerful Soviet Union 3-2 in the semifinals. The Soviets led 2-1 after two periods, but American goaltender Jack McCartan made incredible saves to keep the game close. The Christian brothers then stepped up, tying the score late in the second period. Bill Christian sealed the win with the game-winning goal in the third period. This upset victory advanced the Americans to the gold medal game against Czechoslovakia the next day, where they won 9-4 and claimed America’s first-ever Olympic men’s hockey gold. The 1960 triumph is known as the “Forgotten Miracle,” overshadowed by the 1980 Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid but it was the 1960 squad that first set the standard for Team USA grit and heart.