Congress Proposes Gold Medals for 1980 'Miracle on Ice' Hockey Team, Authorizes Bronze Replicas for Public

This bill, titled the "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act," formally authorizes the presentation of Congressional Gold Medals to honor the members of the 1980 United States Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. It directs the creation of three identical gold medals recognizing their unexpected victory over the Soviet Union during the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, a moment widely known as the "Miracle on Ice."

Cementing a Legacy

The legislation lays out Congress's findings, essentially explaining why this team deserves such high recognition. It recounts the story: a team of college players defeating the heavily favored Soviet team, who had won the previous four gold medals, during a tense period of the Cold War. The bill notes the game's massive viewership (averaging 34.2 million) and its designation by Sports Illustrated as the 20th century's top sports moment. It also highlights the victory's tangible impact on American hockey, citing a nearly 400% increase in USA Hockey registrations and a significant jump in American NHL players since 1980.

The Medal Plan: Gold for Display, Bronze for Keepsakes

Instead of individual medals for each player, the Act specifies that three gold medals will be struck by the U.S. Mint. These aren't going into private hands; they're designated for public display and research. One medal each will go to the Lake Placid Olympic Center in New York (where the games happened), the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado. The idea is to make this recognition accessible to the public in relevant locations.

Following standard practice for Congressional Gold Medals, the bill also authorizes the U.S. Mint to produce and sell bronze duplicates to the public. The price will be set to cover the production costs – think materials, labor, and overhead. The legislation classifies these medals as "numismatic items," essentially putting them under the Mint's authority to manage through its Public Enterprise Fund, which handles the business side of creating and selling commemorative coins and medals. Proceeds from the bronze medal sales will go back into this fund.