Ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics
Encyclopedia
At the 1960 Winter Olympics
held in Squaw Valley, California
, United States
, one ice hockey
event was held: men's Ice Hockey. This tournament was also counted as IIHF World Championship and IIHF European Championship. Games were held at Blyth Arena
.
Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Sweden were the top four teams heading into the Games. All four were defeated by the American team, which won all seven games en route to its first Olympic gold medal. In the United States the victory has come to be known as the "Forgotten Miracle," in comparison to the more famous 1980 gold medal known as the Miracle on Ice
; both instances represent the only two Olympic gold medals won by USA men's ice hockey. A documentary entitled Forgotten Miracle was produced in 2010 on the 50th anniversary of the Games by Northland Films
.
December 12, 1959
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Team USA Medal Round Highlights
1960 Winter Olympics
The 1960 Winter Olympics, officially known as the VIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event held between February 18 and 28, 1960 in Squaw Valley, California, United States. In 1955 at the 50th IOC meeting, the organizing committee made the surprise choice to award Squaw Valley as...
held in Squaw Valley, California
Squaw Valley Ski Resort
Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, California, is one of the largest ski areas in the United States, and was the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. It is the second-largest ski area at Lake Tahoe , with 33 chairlifts, and has the only funitel lift in the U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, one ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
event was held: men's Ice Hockey. This tournament was also counted as IIHF World Championship and IIHF European Championship. Games were held at Blyth Arena
Blyth Arena
Blyth Arena was an ice hockey arena in Squaw Valley, California. It was built in 1959 as the venue of the ice hockey and figure-skating competitions and the opening ceremonies to 1960 Winter Olympics and held 8,500 people . Standing-room crowds of 10,000 people were reported for the hockey games...
.
Canada, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Sweden were the top four teams heading into the Games. All four were defeated by the American team, which won all seven games en route to its first Olympic gold medal. In the United States the victory has come to be known as the "Forgotten Miracle," in comparison to the more famous 1980 gold medal known as the Miracle on Ice
Miracle on Ice
The "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
; both instances represent the only two Olympic gold medals won by USA men's ice hockey. A documentary entitled Forgotten Miracle was produced in 2010 on the 50th anniversary of the Games by Northland Films
Northland Films
Northland Films Inc. is an independent documentary film production company. The crew has produced award-winning documentary films which have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, ESPN & NBC-Sports.-FILMS:...
.
Medalists
| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
Jack McCartan Jack McCartan John William "Jack" McCartan was a goaltender for the gold-medal-winning 1960 United States hockey team. He is also a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame... John Mayasich John Mayasich John Edward Mayasich is a former American ice hockey player. He was a member of the U.S. ice hockey team that won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.... John Kirrane Paul Johnson Paul Johnson (ice hockey) Paul Herbert Johnson is a former ice hockey forward. He was a member of the United States hockey team that won the gold medal at Squaw Valley, California during the 1960 Winter Olympics. He scored the pivotal go-ahead goal in the semifinal game against Canada.-External links:... Weldon Olson Weldon Olson Weldon Howard "Weldy" Olson is an American ice hockey player. He won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.-External links:*... Eugene Grazia Eugene Grazia Eugene "Gene" Grazia is an American ice hockey player. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.-External links:*... Richard Rodenheiser Richard Rodenheiser Richard Peter "Dick" Rodenheiser is an American ice hockey player. He won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.-External links:*... Edwyn Owen Edwyn Owen Edwyn Robert "Bob" Owen was an American star hockey player at Harvard and played on the 1960 U.S. hockey team that won an Olympic gold medal for the United States. He later battled schizophrenia.-Ice hockey:... Rodney Paavola Rodney Paavola Rodney Earland "Rod" Paavola was an American ice hockey player. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.-External links:*... Richard Meredith Richard Meredith (ice hockey) Richard Otis "Dick" Meredith is an American ice hockey player. He won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.-External links:*... Bill Christian Bill Christian William David Christian is a retired ice hockey player. He led the United States to a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998. His son, Dave Christian, was a... Tommy Williams Roger Christian Roger Christian (ice hockey) Roger Allen Christian was an ice hockey player. Born in Warroad, Minnesota, Christian played for the American 1960 Winter Olympics and 1964 Winter Olympics ice hockey teams, winning a gold medal in 1960. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1989... Robert McVey Robert McVey Robert Patrick "Bob" McVey is an American ice hockey player. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics, bringing home the US's first Olympic Hockey Gold Medal. He went to Harvard and then onto the Olympics... Lawrence Palmer Lawrence Palmer Lawrence Palmer is an American ice hockey player. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.-External links:*... Bill Cleary Bob Cleary Bob Cleary Robert Barry Cleary is a retired ice hockey player. Cleary was a member of the American 1960 Winter Olympics team that won the gold medal. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.-External links:*... Harry Batchelder |
Harold Hurley Harold Hurley Harold Head "Boat" Hurley is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics.He was born in Stratford, Ontario.Hurley won the silver medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in ice hockey.... Harry Sinden Harry Sinden Harry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series... Jack Douglas Jack Douglas (ice hockey) John "Jack" Douglas was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics. He was born in Trenton, Ontario.... Bob Attersley Fred Etcher Fred Etcher Fred Etcher is a Canadian ice hockey left winger who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics.He was born in Oshawa, Ontario.... George Samolenko George Samolenko George Samolenko is a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics.He was born in Oshawa, Ontario.Samolenko won the silver medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in ice hockey.... Donald Charles Head Darryl Sly Darryl Sly Darryl "Slip" Sly was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 79 games in the National Hockey League. Born in Collingwood, Ontario, he played with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Minnesota North Stars.- External links :*... Ken Laufman Ken Laufman Kenneth Laufman is a Canadian ice hockey centre who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics and 1960 Winter Olympics.... Floyd Martin Floyd Martin Floyd "Butch" Martin is a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics and 1960 Winter Olympics.... James Connelly Robert Forhan Robert Forhan Robert "Bob" Forhan is a Canadian ice hockey right winger who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics and 1964 Winter Olympics.Forhan won the silver medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in ice hockey... Donald Rope Donald Rope Donald Rope was a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics and 1960 Winter Olympics.... Maurice Benoit Bobby Rousseau Bobby Rousseau Joseph Jean-Paul Robert Rousseau is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger.-Early career:... Cliff Pennington Robert McKnight |
Yuri Tsitsinov Vladimir Grebennikov Mikhail Bychkov Mikhail Bychkov Mikhail Ivanovich Bychkov was a Russian ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League.He was born in Lyubertsy, Soviet Union.Bychkov played for Krylya Sovetov Moscow and was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1954.... Viktor Pryazhnikov Nikolai Karpov Nikolai Puchkov Nikolai Puchkov Nikolai Georgievich Puchkov was a ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. Born in Moscow, Soviet Union, he played for HC CSKA Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg. He was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1954.-External links:*... Evgeni Groshev Viktor Yakushev Stanislav Petukhov Stanislav Petukhov Stanislav Afanasievich Petukhov is a retired ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for HC Dynamo Moscow. He was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963.-External links:*... Evgeni Yerkin Nikolaï Sologubov Nikolai Sologubov Nikolai Mikhailovich Sologubov was an ice hockey defenceman in the Soviet Union.-German-Soviet War:Sologubov took part in the German-Soviet War. Serving in the naval infantry he was wounded to leg in a battle near Shlisselburg in 1943. After a month and a half rehabilitation at a hospital he... Yuri Baulin Aleksandr Almetov Aleksandr Almetov Aleksandr Davletovich Almetov was an ice hockey player who played as a forward for HC CSKA Moscow and for the USSR Team.Aleksandr Almetov was born in Kiev, Soviet Union. He was a member of the USSR Team from 1959 to 1967. He competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics, winning bronze. In 1963 he became... Konstantin Loktev Konstantin Loktev Konstantin Borisovich Loktev was an ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League. He played for HC CSKA Moscow. He was inducted into the Russian and Soviet Hockey Hall of Fame in 1964. He was born and died in Moscow.-External links:* * * * *... Veniamin Aleksandrov Genrikh Sidorenkov Genrikh Sidorenkov Genrikh Ivanovich Sidorenkov was a Russian ice hockey player who played in the Soviet Hockey League.He was born in Moscow, Soviet Union.... Alfred Kuchevskiy |
Qualification
December 9, 1959- West Germany 5-2 East Germany
December 12, 1959
- East Germany 3-5 West Germany (combined team)
First round
Top two teams (shaded ones) from each group advanced to the final round and played for 1st-6th places, other teams played in the consolation round.Group A
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|
| 1 |
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February 19
- Canada 5-2 Sweden
February 20
- Canada 19-1 Japan
February 21
- Sweden 19-0 Japan
Group B
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
February 19
- USSR 8-0 Germany (UTG)
February 20
- USSR 8-4 Finland
February 21
- Germany (UTG) 4-1 Finland
Group C
| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 8 | 2 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 0 |
February 19
- USA 7-5 Czechoslovakia
February 20
- Czechoslovakia 18-1 Australia
February 21
- USA 12-1 Australia
Consolation round
Teams, which didn't qualify for the final round, played here.| Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 11 | 7 | |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 22 | 5 | |
| 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 57 | 0 |
February 22
- Finland 14-1 Australia
February 23
- Finland 6-6 Japan
February 24
- Japan 13-2 Australia
February 25
- Finland 19-2 Australia
February 26
- Finland 11-2 Japan
February 27
- Japan 11-3 Australia
Medal round
First place team wins gold, second silver and third bronze.| Rank | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 11 | 10 | |
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February 22
- USSR 8-5 Czechoslovakia
- USA 6-3 Sweden
- Canada 12-0 Germany (UTG)
February 24
- USA 9-1 Germany (UTG)
- USSR 2-2 Sweden
- Canada 4-0 Czechoslovakia
February 25
- USSR 7-1 Germany (UTG)
- USA 2-1 Canada
- Czechoslovakia 3-1 Sweden
February 27
- Czechoslovakia 9-1 Germany (UTG)
- USA 3-2 USSR
- Canada 6-5 Sweden
February 28
- USA 9-4 Czechoslovakia
- Sweden 8-2 Germany (UTG)
- Canada 8-5 USSR
Team USA Medal Round Highlights
- A four-goal 1st period and Roger Christian's hat trick led the Americans over the Swedes, 6-3.
- Bill Cleary lights the lamp four times and adds two assists in a dominating 9-1 performance over Germany.
- Canada was seeking revenge for a shocking 4-1 loss to the U.S. in the medal round four years earlier, which wound up being the difference between silver and bronze for the two nations. However, American netminder Jack McCartan had other ideas as the USA became the only team at the 1960 Olympics to hold Canada under 4 goals. McCartan stopped 39 of 40 shots in a stunning 2-1 upset. American coach Jack Riley said no goalie has ever played better than McCartan did in that game.
- After defeating one gold medal favorite, the Americans had the other one next and the Cold War rivalry with the Soviets was nationally televised. The Soviets led 2-1 after the first twenty minutes, but Bill Christian scored in each of the final two periods (his only two goals of the tournament and both assisted by his brother, Roger) and the USA beat the USSR for the first time ever, 3-2. Unlike the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" during which the Soviet Union dominated much of the play, the Americans went toe-to-toe with "The Bear" and actually ousthot the Soviets 34-29.
- However, just like the 1980 "Miracle On Ice" the historic upset of the USSR did not clinch the gold medal for the USA. If the Americans lost their last game, and Canada beat the USSR, the Canadians would win the gold medal on the goal differential tiebreaker. A final test with Czechoslovakia loomed for the U.S. and it loomed at an alarmingly early Sunday start time of 8:00 a.m., less than 18 hours after the historic Soviet victory. Fans were also on a hangover as the arena was about only 10% as full as it was the previous day when the puck dropped. The teams traded a half-dozen goals in the 1st, but the Czechs took a 4-3 lead into the 2nd intermission, just as they did when the two teams had met nine days earlier in the First Round. In that prior game, the U.S. stormed out with 4 straight goals en route to a 7-5 win. This time, they were even more dominant. Unleashing an astonishing 28 shots in the final term (two more than they had in the first two periods and one less than the Czechs totaled for the entire game), the Americans found the back of the net six times, half of which were goals two, three, and four on the day for Roger Christian, giving him a team-high eight for the tournament. The USA won 9-4 to complete a perfect 7-0-0 record in Squaw Valley and clinch the country's first Olympic gold medal. Goalie Jack McCartan allowed only 17 goals in the tournament (nine of which came in the two games against the Czechs), finishing with a very impressive Goals Against Average of 2.43 and a .917 save percentage.
Leading scorers
| Rk | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Fred EtcherFred Etcher Fred Etcher is a Canadian ice hockey left winger who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics.He was born in Oshawa, Ontario.... |
7 | 9 | 12 | 21 |
| 2 | Bob Attersley |
7 | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| 3 |  Bill Cleary |
7 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 4 | Bill Christian Bill Christian William David Christian is a retired ice hockey player. He led the United States to a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984 and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998. His son, Dave Christian, was a... |
7 | 2 | 11 | 13 |
| 5 | George Samolenko George Samolenko George Samolenko is a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1960 Winter Olympics.He was born in Oshawa, Ontario.Samolenko won the silver medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics in ice hockey.... |
7 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 5 |  Lars Lundvall |
7 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| 7 |  Vaclav Panucek |
7 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 7 | John Mayasich John Mayasich John Edward Mayasich is a former American ice hockey player. He was a member of the U.S. ice hockey team that won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 1960 Winter Olympics.... |
7 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 7 | Nisse Nilsson Nisse Nilsson Nils "Nisse" Nilsson is a retired Swedish ice hockey player. He participated at the 1964 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal. He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2002.-External links:... |
7 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 7 |  Veniamin Aleksandrov |
7 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 11 | Floyd Martin Floyd Martin Floyd "Butch" Martin is a Canadian ice hockey player who competed in the 1956 Winter Olympics and 1960 Winter Olympics.... |
7 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 12 | Ronald Petersson |
7 | 4 | 8 | 12 |