The United States victory over the USSR at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. This photo was scanned from negatives in the Watertown Daily Times archives, take by former Editor and Publisher John. B. Johnson. (Provided photo — Watertown Daily Times)

The 2026 United States Olympic hockey team on Sunday beat Canada 2-1 in an overtime thriller and captured its first gold medal in the Winter Olympics since the “Miracle on Ice” team took the top spot on the podium in 1980 in Lake Placid.

It was 46 years ago when Buzz Schneider scored the goal in the first period against the Soviet Union to tie the game at 1-1, and the United States went on to shock the heavily favored Russians, who had dominated other teams in the tournament and were expected to take the gold.

Instead, the upstart Americans won the upset of the century, beating the powerhouse Russians 4-3 and then advancing to win the gold medal against Finland. Schneider finished those Olympics tied for the team lead in goals for the U.S. with Mark Johnson and Rob McClanahan, who each netted five goals.

The Telegram spoke to Schneider, a key member of that 1980 Olympic hockey team, hours after Team USA once again collected gold medals.

“All I can say is that it’s the ultimate goal in the Olympics to win a gold medal, and to say that you’ve achieved first place, the best in the world at that time, there’s no greater feeling in sports,” Schneider said. “I mean you’re not only competing for your city, you’re playing for, and representing, your country — and when you put it all together, that’s got to be one of the best feelings there is in sports, I think.”

–

A golden moment

–

As Schneider started his trip back in time reminiscing, he said that 1980 didn’t seem that long ago as he watched the current Team USA battle a tough Team Canada — as the game went on, his memories were jolted with images of past glory.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago, boy, time goes by quick,” he said, adding that the game Sunday was action-packed. “It was fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories, that’s for sure. Lake Placid brings back special memories for me and I’m happy for the guys too. The Canadians played well, but we had a hot goalie. When you get two good teams like that, if you hang on like we did, you never know what can happen. It worked out well.”

The golden moment Sunday came when Jack Hughes found the back of the net to score the overtime goal that sent Team USA and an entire nation into delirium.

The first thing that Schneider said went through his mind when he saw Team USA celebrating after scoring the gold-medal-winning goal was “elation.”

“That they did it as a team and now you can relax a bit. It was total elation, I mean you came that far, and did it. I know what they went through and I was happy for them,” Schneider said. “It was good to see.”

–

Family and the brotherhood

–

Schneider reflected on not just the hockey games, but the Olympic experience on a whole, including the importance of two types of family — one’s actual family and the family of team.

“There were the opening ceremonies and other events. The total experience was fun, but it goes by quick. You’re only there for 14 or 15 days, but there’s so much packed into that and you’re so concentrated on playing and winning,” he said, noting that players at this year’s Olympics were accompanied by family members, and stressed just how important that is — and was for him.

“Looking back now, for me, my wife was there, mother and dad, my brother and sister were there. They all came up, and it was great,” Schneider said. “I think for these guys too, they had a lot of their families over there for the Games. It probably means more to them than it does to the players. I’m just glad that my parents and my wife could enjoy their two weeks.”

Schneider also explained that there’s plenty of work to get players to the level they’re at as professionals.

“You put in a lot of years and everybody sees the 15 days, but there’s a lot of work and you need help along the way from family and friends to get where you’re at. That’s what I thought about,” he said.

After scoring the game-winning goal against Canada on Sunday, Team USA member Jack Hughes spoke about the strong bond of the hockey Olympians in a post game interview.

“The USA hockey brotherhood is so strong, and we’re so proud to win for our country,” he said.

And Schneider agreed wholeheartedly — and spoke with true pride evident in his voice about how both the 1980 team and the current team are now united together in history.

“We’re their club and they’re our club. I mean we’re happy to be in their club and they’re happy to be in our club. USA hockey has great tradition, and great bonding. There’s the NHL and all these college hockey teams, but when it comes down to the USA hockey, every country has its own special pride. We’re doggone proud of those guys,” Schneider said. “We are an Olympic hockey family. I don’t know if that’s true in all sports, but you know, hockey is a tight-knit community, especially in our country, and we’re proud of the guys that played behind us, and ahead of us and for us. It is a great brotherhood and there is no other club like it that I can think of in sports that sticks together like we do.”

–

Onto the podium and a medal

–

One of the most iconic moments of the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team winning the gold medal was when the entire team managed to climb on a small podium full of celebratory joy, followed by the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

That ceremony has since changed, as there is no longer a podium and the Canadian and U.S. teams lined up to receive their medals. And that, too, was a moment that brought back fond memories for Schneider, who said at first, it was just Team Captain Mike Eruzione who stood on the podium representing the 1980 squad — but the entire team wound up climbing on.

“We didn’t expect to go up on that podium, Mike called us, and I don’t know how the heck we all fit on that thing,” Schneider said with a laugh. “It was so good to share the moment with each other on that podium. You know, that brought us all together as a family.

“I wish they had a podium for these guys to jump on,” he added, referring to the latest hockey gold medalists.

–

Strong sense of pride

–

Winning the game is one thing, but the sense of pride surfaced for Schneider during several phases after the game has ended.

“I played in the 1976 Olympics, and I don’t know how many world tournaments, five world championships, but when I had the opportunity to see our flag lead everybody else and they played our national anthem, I went ‘God, unbelievable.’ It was wonderful to see,” he said. “And the chanting of ‘USA! USA!’ I never heard that before until 1980, and I am sure those guys felt the same thing with the pride they have for their country.”

Schneider said that the national pride for Team USA runs even deeper than the statistics of the game.

“As a team, all 20 guys, nobody cares who scored or anything. It’s a unique experience, I’ll tell you that. It’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Another iconic moment of the 1980 team was right after winning the gold, goalie Jim Craig famously draped an American flag over himself and then skated around in victory saluting the frenzied crowd at the Olympic arena in Lake Placid. During Sunday’s celebration, there were several players donning the flag, and Schneider was asked if that too brought back special memories.

“Yes it did. I said ‘Geez, maybe Jimmy started something,'” he said with a chuckle. “I think now everybody does it, which is good to show pride in your country, no matter if you’re American or Canadian or Norwegian. It’s great. That’s a nice tradition they got going on now. I’m happy for them, it’s a great celebration.”

Then the time finally arrives for the players to leave the ice and return to the confines of the locker room. According to Schneider, after the 1980 team won gold, there were more special — and awkward — moments to follow.

“After we won it, we had our beers and stuff and it was good, and then we didn’t know what to do. We were so happy, we didn’t know how to act. But we kept together like these guys did today, it was great. I mean you work your whole life for it, and then to achieve what you did as a team, it’s special,” he said. “And we had a great time. We were yelling, we were screaming. I can’t remember the words or the song, but we were having a great time.”

After those moments of joy, the players had to go back to their “cells” — literally. Schneider said the players were staying in what is now the Ray Brook Federal Correctional Facility, and they didn’t have much contact with the outside world and didn’t realize just how much the country had rallied around the gold medalist hockey team.

“Afterwards, we were staying in an actual prison up there and we didn’t know all the recognition we were getting around the country because we didn’t have cell phones. All we had were telegrams, and we didn’t know until after we left Lake Placid. We flew out on a plane and when we landed in Washington, D.C., the kids were yelling at us and calling us by our first names. We were like ‘Whoa, what’s going on?’ And boy, it got bigger after that,” he said. “There were parades. It really hasn’t settled down ever since. It’s been going on for 46 years.”

Schneider said the recognition of winning hockey gold will also carry on for the 2026 gold medal team.

“For us, there were two movies made, we got so many awards, and a Congressional gold medal. We can’t complain at all. We’ve been treated very well,” he said. “And I’m sure it will be the same for them, and good for them. It’s time to pass the torch to those guys. We had our run, it’s been great and I’m glad that we could contribute to this generation of hockey. I know these guys will do it as well.”

Of course, things have changed. The 1980 Olympics were composed of college players, while the past few decades, it’s been made up of players from the National Hockey League, but Schneider said that doesn’t change the magnitude of winning Olympic gold.

“When we were playing, you had to go through the Olympics to get to the NHL. Now you have to go through the NHL to get to play in the Olympics. It’s changed, and the game has changed too,” he said.

“With Herb Brooks in 1980, it was the first time that we started interchanging positions, using puck control, playing like the Europeans. And I think everybody wants to see the best players playing for their countries,” Schneider added. “The only thing is I would like to see the Russians return to the Olympics. It would be nice if they could get them back in there and put politics aside and let the best players play.”

Schneider did take time to lament the loss for Team Canada — and the bittersweet medal ceremony for the Canadians, who lined up for the silver medal, but still had the look of dejection after losing the gold to the United States. He stressed time will heal their wound of the loss.

“They played so well too, and they’re our biggest rivals. It hurts. That one is going to hurt for a while,” he said. “At least for four years, then they’ll get ready to go all over again, and that will be great, I’m looking forward to it.”

–

An emotional ride

–

For Schneider, watching Team USA win gold again didn’t just provide fond memories, it also stirred his emotions.

“It was fun to watch. I enjoyed it. I’m glad they ended up with the gold. It’s great for USA hockey,” he said. I was happy for them, what a great feeling.”

But the pinnacle of winning the championship comes with both the symbolism and the crowning moment when champion status is affirmed and the gold medal is placed around the neck of a competing athlete — and that was the ultimate prize, according to Schneider.

“I don’t think there’s another moment like it. It’s a team sport, and I couldn’t have done it with the 19 guys around me,” he said, as his voice began to crackle with emotion. “It was pretty special and something I’ll cherish forever, and I think my family will too as well as the rest of my teammates.”

Indeed, as will the entire United States of America, as the chants of USA! USA! USA! echo throughout the nation.