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I never subscribed to astrology, numerology or anything like that because I always attributed it to human nature and tried to make sense of a huge mess of information.
We kind of decided over time that “7” was lucky and “13” was unlucky, and all sorts of other nonsense that doesn’t really mean anything.
But when I learned that the highly anticipated Olympic gold medal showdown between the United States and Canada would take place on February 22, I almost fell off my chair.
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Jim Craig celebrates the victory of the American team against the USSR on February 22, 1980. (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
It’s almost too perfect.
Even if it’s not a date that marks many people, it does for hockey fans. Specifically, American hockey fans.
It’s the anniversary of “Miracle on Ice.”
We all know this story, and as the years go by, it begins to seem more and more like some sort of great American legend.
There was the Soviet Union, an international heavyweight, which dominated the Olympics for almost two decades.
At the time, the Olympics were reserved for amateurs and this classification only vaguely applied to the Soviets. Names like Boris Mikhailov, Sergei Makarov and Vladislav Tretiak would be NHL superstars if they played in a different era.
But once again, they were “amateurs”.
As for the Americans, they put together a team led by Herb Brooks, made up of real amateurs from the collegiate ranks. They put aside grudges from their NCAA years and overcame the off-ice struggles of their personal lives – like goaltender Jim Craig, who was dealing with the loss of his mother – to become a tight-knit, highly talented team.
Of course, the game took place during the height of the Cold War. So, in addition to the standard David and Goliath matchup, you’ve added a healthy dose of geopolitics to the mix.
This paved the way for the medal round at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.
On February 22, the Americans and Soviets took to the ice and, well… I think we all know the rest.
This victory immortalized names like Eruzione, Craig, Johnson and Schneider.
American hockey player Mike Eruzione #21 of Team USA shakes hands with Team Russia during a 1980 exhibition game against the Soviet Union on February 9, 1980 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
The United States did not win gold that day due to the round-robin format used at the time, but it meant that if they beat Finland in their next match, they would win gold in every sense of the word.
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They did, but unfortunately it was the most recent men’s Olympic gold medal won by the United States. One of two, with victory at the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, California.
They came close, notably in 2010, when Sidney Crosby stole gold around the Americans’ necks with an overtime game-winning goal.
However, one Olympic cycle later, NHL players were barred from the Olympics, which somewhat cooled the rivalry between the United States and Canada.
Thanks in large part to the 4 Nations showdown, the rivalry between the United States and Canada is hotter than ever.
And it feels like it’s 1980 all over again. The Americans are the underdogs, even though they arguably have the most talented American team of all time.
On the American side, you have Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Quinn and Jack Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, and many others, all backed by three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck.
Brock Nelson celebrates his goal with Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Hughes alongside him during the 5-1 victory over Latvia on February 12, 2026 at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games. (RvS.Media/Robert Hradil)
But there are also the Canadians who have the best player on the planet, Connor McDavid, as well as superstars like Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, Brad Marchand, Mitch Marner, Cale Makar and many others. And then there’s goaltender Jordan Binnington, who miraculously seems to rise to the occasion and play his best hockey on the international stage.
Oh, and if he’s healthy, they’ll also have a Sidney Crosby on their roster, one of the best players to ever accomplish that.
Just like in 1980 (but not as much as in 1980, when there were nuclear warheads pointed in every direction), there is a little geopolitical animosity between the two nations that gives the game even more meaning.
It’s going to be wild.
February 22 is already the date of the greatest feat in the history of American hockey. Hell, I’d say American sports history is full stop.
So, what about Team USA?
Let’s add to the legend of February 22.
