Monday, December 2, 2013

GLENDALE ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes President & CEO Anthony LeBlanc announced today that members of the United States’ 1980 Gold Medal winning hockey team will take part in an Olympic send-off event and ceremonial puck drop prior to the Coyotes game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, February 7, 2014. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena.

Among the players for the event (confirmed on Feb. 6) are former Team USA Captain Mike Eruzione and teammates Neal Broten, Steve Janaszak, Rob McClanahan, Ken Morrow, Buzz Schneider, Dave Silk, Bob Suter, Phil Verchota and Mark Wells.

“We are thrilled to welcome so many players from the United States’ Miracle on Ice team to the Valley,” said LeBlanc. “The Coyotes are excited about the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and we couldn’t think of a better way to get all of our fans excited about the upcoming Olympic Games than by honoring the greatest and most memorable U.S. Olympic team of the 20thcentury.”

On Friday, February 22, 1980 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York, the United States men’s hockey team, made up of amateur and collegiate players and led by coach Herb Brooks, defeated the Soviet team (4-3). Prior to the game, the Soviet team had won nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament dating back to 1954. The United States’ victory over the Soviet Union was called the “Miracle on Ice” and Team USA went on to capture the gold medal by winning its last game over Finland. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named the “Miracle on Ice” the Top Sports Moment of the 20th Century.

More information regarding the Coyotes pre-game ceremony, puck drop and media availability with the 1980 Miracle on Ice team players on Feb. 7 will be announced at a later date.

For ticket information, please call 480-563-PUCK (7825) or visit PhoenixCoyotes.com.