As the clock ticked down in Lake Placid, NY on February 22, 1980, the whole hockey world was shocked to witness that miracles do in fact exist. And for those in the “need to see to believe” camp, spectators didn't have to look any further than Team USA goalie Jim Craig. The 22-year-old netminder saved 36 shots on goal to help upset the five-time Olympic champion Soviet Union, 4-3, in the Olympic hockey semifinal in Lake Placid.

The “Miracle on Ice” went on to shape Craig’s life and still is a huge part of who he is today. “What I try to do is take my life experiences and really help people from what I've learned about being a member of that team,” Craig said. 

With the 2026 Olympic Games on the horizon, there’s no better time to dust off the memories. On January 15, the Olympic champion will get a chance to relive the historic game with his fellow teammates, as well as fans, at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York. Craig is part of the “Run Back the Miracle” fan experience featuring holograms, memorabilia, and never-before-seen footage. The Michelob ULTRA sponsored event aims to help recreate iconic moments from the famous American underdog win that shocked the world.

“It’s that type of bond and camaraderie that just never goes away when you play with a great team, especially if you win, and you win for something bigger than yourself, which is our country," Craig said. It's just so special because Team USA is not the big underdog that we once were. These guys, through hope not only from our team, but teams before them, have really worked hard. The sport has really grown, and the expectations are great.”

For Craig, that legacy is rooted less in the final score and more in the people who made it possible. When he looks back at the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, he doesn’t immediately dwell on the pressures of playing against the Soviet Union at the time or even the resulting gold medal. What stands out was the collection of U.S. players who had won at every level but were willing to sacrifice their individual accolades for something bigger than themselves.

“If you look at our team, we had a team of captains, a team of national champs, people who are used to being in the limelight who had to shift their goals and responsibilities,” Craig said. “My teammate, Steve Janaszak, was a guy who just won a national title, was the MVP, and he doesn't play a minute of the games in there. But his commitment to pushing me and always being prepared, that's what was special about our team, very unselfish players."

Head coach Herb Brooks was the mastermind behind molding that team of young college players into Olympic gold medalists. Brooks commonly is referred to as an "architect" by Craig and many others because of his knack for finding the right players for the squad rather than the best ones. Members of the original team are supposed to make an appearance at the event, for Craig, the return to Lake Placid is a chance to reconnect with his teammates. "Being back with the guys will be like being in the locker room all over," Craig said.

Craig is quick to acknowledge how far Olympic hockey has come since 1980. The gap between nations has narrowed as the sport has grown across the world, with camaraderie and competitiveness driving the next generation of athletes. Craig sees the balance between the two in the modern rivalry between the United States and Canada on both the men’s and women’s sides. With both countries’ skills on the ice evolving, it’s become harder to predict the outcome of games between the two. 

“This is hidden animosity, but in a nice way, between Canada and the United States. Canada wants to have everybody think it's their sport, and the United States wants to say, ‘no, it's our sport.’ Both Canada and the USA women are so good, it's almost like they can't have an Olympics because nobody else is close to them,” Craig said. 

Along with new rivalries, the reinstatement of NHL players for the first time since 2014 brings a new sense of anticipation ahead of the Olympic Games for Craig. American men like Brady and Matthew Tkachuk bring the element of passion for playing for their country, according to Craig. 

It’s an excitement Craig himself shares. The speed of life after his Olympic win in 1980 left little room for him to celebrate the victory for what it was. Now, Craig will be sitting with other hockey fans in Lake Placid, experiencing the life-changing game through their eyes. 

“I think what I'm really excited is getting back there and being with the fans,” Craig said. “And really soaking in what our team accomplished and how this moment was so special and how the country is now.”

Craig admitted the legacy left behind by the "miracle" resonates in his everyday life. Whether its meeting young girls aspiring to be professional women’s hockey players or watching the growth of women's and men’s hockey in the U.S., the echoes of the 1980 Winter Olympics ring throughout the sport.

The puck drops on Olympic hockey at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games starting on Feb. 5 for the women and Feb. 11 for the men. All Olympic competition will be streamed live on NBC and Peacock.