[Finalapproach29er]

The USA team lost to the Russians 2 weeks earlier at Madison Square Garden 7-2.

[Mr. Buzzcut]

I was a precocious 14, unhappy with the situation in the land at the the time ... that game was a clear turning point.

Later, in the Fall of 1980, we jettisoned our malaise and never looked back.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Actually, it was 10-3, but your point is well made.

As a college journalism project, I interviewed Rob McClanahan, Buzz Schneider and Steve Janaszak (the backup goalie and the only member of Team USA who never stepped on the ice in 1980) and found them all to be kind gentlemen. Janaszak's big highlight from the Olympics, other than winning his medal, was meeting his future wife.

Lots of those players never went on to the pro ranks - Schneider couldn't get a contract despite being the team's leading goal scorer in the Olympics, Bill Baker became an oral surgeon and even Jim Craig's NHL career was star-crossed.

But there were players like Neal Broten and Ken Morrow who went on to enjoy long and successful pro careers. On other teams, Jari Kurri played for Finland in 1980 and Igor Larionov is still playing, I believe.

But the maestro has passed. What a sad day for American hockey.