The sport of ice hockey has long been an Olympic event, first introduced in 1920. Teams from Canada have won the most medals, with a total of fifteen golds. The United States, which won the 1960 and 1980 Olympics (including the “Miracle on Ice” upset of the Soviet Union), has also won nine golds. Other top performers include Great Britain in 1936, Sweden twice, the Unified Team of former Soviet players in 1992, and Russia (as OAR) three times.

During the 1956 Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Soviets dominated Olympic hockey — as they would for 36 years. But in the final game against the U.S., Buzz Schneider, the son of a member of the 1960 champions, sent a slap shot into the net that appeared to put the Americans up 2-1. The puck crossed the goal line and, according to IIHF rules, the American team advanced to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, however, a German player managed to send the game into overtime, where the United States won. The American team was composed of professionals, while the Soviets were all amateurs. As the ice shattered with sticks and gloves, commentator Al Michaels asked, “Do you believe in miracles?”