Or so it looked … in fact, nobody was even on the ice. Three of the 17 living 1980 Olympians — Mike Eruzione, Mark Johnson and Jim Craig — were sitting up in the stands.

Through the use of holograms, lasers and screens, parts of the famed “Miracle on Ice” hockey game, which eventually set up the U.S. team’s gold medal win over Finland, was reimagined through the “Run Back the Miracle” in Lake Placid.

Along with the holograms, the show featured footage from the game, narration from legendary broadcaster Al Michaels — who also made an appearance — and even play-by-play from local Sandy Caligiore, a WNBZ-AM radio host in 1980 who called the “Miracle on Ice” game.

It was a chance for spectators to try to relive the game that happened nearly 46 years ago. Even for the 1980 players like Eruzione, it was an opportunity to view it in a different light. He said he’s only rewatched the game twice in his life, and the last time was on VHS.

Holograms of the Team USA and Soviet Union players are shown during the "Run Back the Miracle," event in Lake Placid on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“Somebody always says, ‘How come you don’t watch it?'” Eruzione said. “I don’t want to be sitting at home, watching the game. I don’t want to have my buddies show up like ‘Mike, let it go, it’s over. What are you doing watching the hockey game?’ I know the results, and I know what happened. And I don’t know if I have a VHS machine at home either.”

There were hundreds of people in attendance — some who were even at the game in 1980. While most weren’t, the game holds a special place in many peoples’ hearts.

Craig believes that moment in 1980 when they took down the Soviet Union still resonates with so many people today because it “was much more than a hockey game.”

“Somebody I was speaking with the other day said, ‘You know, I’m from the Bronx, and the first time my father hugged me was counting down the game to the Russians, and at the end he said, ‘We won, right?'” he said.

The 1980 U.S. goalie, who had stopped 36 shots from the Soviet Union to win the game, was excited about the opportunity to relive the game through the Run Back the Miracle event in a different medium.

From the left, Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione and Mark Johnson share a laugh with with legendary sportscaster Al Michaels on the ice of t​he 1980 Herb Brooks Arena during Thursday’s Run Back the Miracle event at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid. (Provided photo — Lou Reuter)

“It’s going to give another generation a chance to experience in the way they communicate, which is the holograms and the Instagrams and social media,” he said. “For us, it’s great, because we’re all grandfathers, right? And so our kids are going to be able to see something and know something about it.”

Michaels appearance in Lake Placid was a bit of rarity as he has only visited here a handful of times since the 1980 Games. He’s often traveling for his Thursday Night Football gig with Amazon Prime. But along with his narration and playing of the final seconds of his broadcast from the game, he interviewed the 1980 players in front of the audience, while adding some of his experience from that night.

Before leaving the Olympic Center Thursday, he took a moment to sign the wall inside the Miracle Plaza where his famous “Do you Believe in Miracles?” line is displayed.

Meanwhile, the trio of 1980 Olympians in attendance had cracked jokes with each other all evening, told some stories and even gave each other praises.

Through the years, some members of the 1980 team return to this village for events such as the Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp or other events. But Eruzione said it’s hard to get the team in one room.

Legendary broadcaster Al Michaels’ signature is show on one of the walls inside the Olympic Center’s Miracle Plaza in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“When we get together …,” Eruzione said. “We’re the most immature people that you’d ever want to be around. We’re like little kids, we just have fun. There’s a respect that we have for each other, there’s a love that we have for each other.”

Along with the three in attendance Thursday, the living members of 1980 team roster includes fellow forwards Neal Broten, Steve Christoff, John Harrington, Rob McClanahan, Buzz Schneider, Dave Silk, Eric Strobel and Phil Verchota; defensemen Bill Baker, Dave Christian, Ken Morrow, Jack O’Callahan and Mike Ramsey; and backup goalie Steve Janaszak. Defenseman Bob Suter died in 2014, forward Mark Pavelich died in 2021 and fellow forward Mark Wells died in 2024.

Those 20 players make up the last U.S. men’s Olympic team to have won gold at the Games. With the Olympics less than a month away, Craig said the 2026 U.S. men’s team has the potential to win gold, as they aren’t a bunch of underdogs.

“The sport has grown so greatly now that they’re going to go in as one of the favorites,” he said. “I would love to see them win a gold medal. I think the 4 Nations (Face-Off) gave you a little bit of taste about how these Olympics are going to be.”

During the 4 Nations tournament last year, the U.S. men took home a silver medal after losing to its heated rival, Canada, 3-2 in overtime in a contest that received national attention because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for annexing Canada and plan to impose tariffs on the country.

Saranac Lake native John Morgan, left, talks with legendary broadcaster Al Michaels after the “Run Back the Miracle,” event in Lake Placid on Thursday. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

Eruzione said he had talked with the U.S. men’s 4 Nation team — which is essentially the same roster as the Olympic one, with the exception of two players — and more recently called Bill Guerin, the general manager for U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey team.

“My message to Billy was the same message I had to the team,” Eruzione said. “I firmly believe that the best team in the world is the United States, and I think they’re going to win the gold medal in Milan. I said to the players, ‘Do me a favor and win, so people will leave us alone and you guys can carry the torch.'”

But even if the U.S. wins gold in Milano-Cortina, Italy, those moments from the one game on Feb. 22, 1980 will likely always bring memories that can’t be replaced.

“Boys, just stay healthy, because let’s bring it back in four more years, right here, for the 50th (anniversary),” Michaels said, at the conclusion of the event.