“Do you believe in miracles? YES!” That iconic call from legendary broadcaster Al Michaels gave one of the most memorable moments in U.S. sports history its name: “The Miracle on Ice. Thanks to the Cold War and the animosity between the United States and the Soviet Union, many people in areas that barely knew the meaning of the word ice – and who certainly were not hockey fans – watched the game and can tell you exactly where they were when they heard that quote from Michaels. Ask virtually any sports fan what year the United States won the Olympic gold medal in hockey and they will answer, “1980.” Ask them to name another year, however, and they just might draw a blank. It is that fact that gives the only other U.S. gold medal run its related name: “The Forgotten Miracle.”

The 1960 team has not been forgotten because it was any more of an underdog than the 1980 squad. Canada had just ended a dominant run that lasted from 1920 to 1952 in which they won every Olympic gold save one. In the previous Olympics, 1956, the Soviet Union began its period of dominance in the games. From 1956 to 1988 (1992 if the Unified Team is included), the USSR won every gold medal save in 1960 and 1980. Rather, the reason for so many overlooking the 1960 games is likely found with a look at the media of the day. Television was in its infancy, and of all the games the American team played, only the game against the Soviet team was aired in full. When the Stars and Stripes faced the Czechoslovakian team for the gold medal, only the third period was aired. Beyond that, the masters of those broadcasts were taped over, meaning that very little footage of the event survives.

I do not think it would be unfair to say that the lack of tape from 1960 is where the dissimilarities between two miracles end. Should you find someone familiar with the 1960 team, the first name they mention is likely to be someone who did not make the team, but who was instrumental in the 1980 tournament: Herb Brooks. The coach of the 1980 team was the final cut made by 1960 coach Jack Riley, and the decision was very controversial among the players. As the team played its pre-Olympic schedule, the results were not good, and Riley felt that a bit of a roster shakeup was needed. He decided to add goalie Jack McCartan, defenseman John Mayasich the leading scorer from the silver medal-winning 1956 team, and forward Bill Cleary, the number two scorer from four years earlier. Cleary, however, refused to join the team without his brother, Bob, and Riley finally agreed to Bill’s terms, cutting Brooks to make room on the roster.

The established players on the team were upset with the move, nearly mutinying, and did not think Bob was good enough for the team. To refocus the team, Riley, just as Herb Brooks would do 20 years later pushed the team extremely hard, allowing them to focus their anger on him. Just as it would happen for Brooks 20 years later, this stance by their coach had the effect of drawing the team together, and at just the right time.

In their first five games of the tournament, Team USA downed Czechoslovakia 7-5, Australia 12-1, Sweden 6-3, Germany 9-1, and Canada 2-1. Then, just as they would do 20 years later, the team faced the Soviet Union in their penultimate game. Again, just like 20 years later, the U.S. team fell behind the Soviets, 2-1 in this case, before scoring two late goals to steal a win. In a final parallel to the 1980, the 1960 team needed to win one more game to take home the gold, and did so, defeating Czechoslovakia for the second time in the tournament, this time 9-4.

The roster change, as controversial as it was, proved to be a stroke of genius by Riley. McCartan was brilliant in net, as acknowledged by Coach Riley who called McCartan’s work “the best goal-tending performance I have ever seen.” Mayasich and the Cleary brothers were all among the team’s leading scorers, with Mayasich posting 12 points and Bill and Bob 14 and 10, respectively. As Brooks’ father would say to him as they watched the team win the gold, “It looks like the coach made the right decision.”

Hockey is a team sport. Considering the Canadian and Soviet dominance in the Olympics, both U.S. victories are quite remarkable. On paper, those teams still look very overmatched. Hockey, though, is played on ice, and not on paper. The U.S. may not have had the most skilled players in those tournaments, but it would be hard to argue that they did not give the best team effort in 1960 and 1980. Both teams had coaches that pushed them to be their best, the first inspiring the second. One is well remembered, the other nearly forgotten, but the 1960 and 1980 miracles should be remembered side by side.