Red Wing Teammates Now, Fetisov, Ramsey Remember 1980 Olympic Showdown

DETROIT - When a teammate asked Detroit Red Wing defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov, who played on some of the best Soviet hockey teams, if he had 20 gold medals, defenseman Mike Ramsey quickly answered for him.

"No - he's got 19 golds and one silver," Ramsey said.

The two friends can laugh about it now, but 16 years ago they played against one another in what is probably the most memorable game in American hockey history - a 4-3 U.S. victory in the 1980 Olympics over the heavily favored Soviets in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The game came during the Cold War. It pitted the world's greatest hockey team - the Soviets had beaten the NHL All Stars two times in three games a year earlier - against a bunch of college kids.

"When you're growing up here, it's the U.S. vs. the Russians, good vs. evil," Ramsey said. "That's what's brainwashed in your head."

Russians prepped for Czechs

The upset seems even more unlikely considering the Soviets beat the U.S. team 10-3 in New York City two weeks before the Olympics. Fetisov didn't even play because the Soviet Coach Viktor Tikhonov wanted to evaluate some borderline players.

But once in the Olympics, the U.S. team came from behind to tie the Swedes and beat the Czechs, both big surprises.

The Soviets cruised to the medal round without a loss. Problem was, Fetisov said: "We had prepared for Czechoslovakia." With the main rival gone, they didn't have much to prove and played like it, narrowly beating Canada and Finland.

Although most U.S. players thought they had a chance, it became a myth that the players thought it was predestined.

"I don't think one guy on the team would say we're going to beat the Russians," Ramsey said. "We were really just trying not to get embarrassed by those guys."

"After the first period, we thought, `Hey, we're not going to get blown out by these guys.' "By the third period, we knew we were actually in the hunt."

Mark Johnson tied the score and captain Mike Eruzione gave the Americans a 4-3 lead with exactly 10 minutes left.

"We looked at the clock," Ramsey said, shaking his head. "Too much time. Those guys never seemed to get tired."

Confidence evaporated

The Soviets, however, were no longer so confident. "Coach started yelling a lot, players yell, all negative things come out," Fetisov said.

Ramsey had played about half the game, including the last minute, so when Jack O'Callahan came flying off the bench at the end of the game to hug him, Ramsey collapsed on the ice while teammates went wild.

"I hadn't seen many teams dancing in front of me," Fetisov said. He grinned, then turned serious. "I think it was the greatest team in Soviet hockey history. Huge disappointment . . . for players, for fan, for government.

"For me, it was the big loss, biggest loss in my life, but not as big as for my older teammates."

Now the two former enemies are teammates and friends.

"It's been an honor just to play with Slava," Ramsey said. "You've heard about him for so long - it's great to be on the same team."

Fetisov has similar words of praise for Ramsey.

"Very nice guy, unbelievable, very classy," Fetisov said. "It's hard to find those kind of people anywhere - America, Russia. . . ."