Feb. 28, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – It was tough to get up for this game, literally. Only 1,000 fans made it to their seats for the Sunday, 8am puck drop between the US and Czechoslovakia. And the Americans, still working out the kinks from a Saturday night game against the USSR, gave up a goal 8 seconds into the game and still trailed with 20 minutes to play.

But, as Bill Cleary would say years later, the Americans “were not to be denied.” Behind 4-3 after two periods, the Americans poured it on the third stanza. Taking 28 shots and scoring 6 goals to meet their destiny, an Olympic gold medal, the first for the United States.

The third period onslaught actualy began in the American locker room between periods. The US got a surprise visit from  Soviet captain Nikolai Sologubov, who used pantomime to suggest the Americans take Oxygen to rejuvenate themselves in the high mountain air. Though Sologubov was a friend from years of international play, the unusual visit owed more to the Soviet’s desire for a medal which required a loss from their border rivals the Czechs.

Some players took the oxygen, but some didn’t. As fate would have it, the three Americans who found the back of the net in the third Roger Christian (3 goals), Bob Cleary (2 goals) and Bill Cleary (1 goal) didn’t take the oxygen, and they obviously didn’t need it.

It was a fitting end to the USA’s remarkable running of the tables at the 1960 Squaw Valley games. This was a deep and talented team, and even on the only night that goalie Jack McCartan wasn’t the best player on the ice, the deep American team found a timely hero in Roger Christian (4 goals total), got solid contributions from their controversial late additions the Cleary brothers (3 goals between them) and even got a lift from the unlikeliest of players when third-liner Dick Rodenheiser took one for the team int he third period, leading to a three-goal power play for the USA.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Americans and their fans hugged at center ice, they were Olympic champions. It had never happened in 40 years of Olympic play and it wouldn’t happen again for another 20 years: an American holding the gold medal at the top of the Olympic hockey podium.

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USA vs Czechoslovakia | February 28, 1960

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Feb. 27, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – Before a national television audience and a crowd of 10,000 spectators filling the 8,500-seat Blyth Arena, the United States shocked the favored USSR hockey team 3-2. Continuing a tradition of a different game, a different hero, US forward Bill Christian netted his only two goals of the medal round to lead the US back from a 2-1 deficit. It was the first time in 10 international games that the United States had beaten the USSR.

Early in the first period, Bill Cleary put the US ahead 1-0, bringing the crowd to its feet. But, the Soviets answered less than a minute later, and added a second goal in the first period to take a 2-1 advantage. It was in the second period that Bill Christian took a pass from his brother Roger and beat Soviet goalie Nikolai Puchkov on a one-on-one. With half of the game yet to play, both goalies kept the puck out of the net until 5 minutes remained in the game. That’s when Bill Christian found a loose puck in front of Puchkov and batted it between his legs. The goal gave the Americans a 3-2 lead with only minutes to play.

The USSR pressed hard in the last few minutes, but goalie Jack McCartan was stellar, as he had been all tournament. The raucous crowd counted down the final 10 seconds as the United States players killed the final 6 on 5 Soviet attack. The team rushed to center ice to celebrate their second improbable win in three days. The victory gave the US a 4-0 record in the medal round, with one game the following morning against Czechoslovakia to decide the gold medal.

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USA vs USSR | February 27, 1960

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Feb. 26, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – One day after defeating Canada 2-1, the US Olympic hockey team has a final day of rest before back to back contests against the USSR and Czechoslovakia. With no hockey games planned, Blyth arena is home to the men’s figure skating programs. American David Jenkins wins gold joining fellow American Carol Heiss as the only two gold medalists for the USA thus far.

The US hockey team is back in action on Feb. 27, and with interest in the team growing around the country, CBS makes the decision to air the USA vs USSR game live in its entirety, the only hockey game to be broadcast as part of the 1960 Olympic winter games.

Feb. 25, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – Before the game, the Canadians anticipated a dominant win. The Americans had beaten them for the first time 4 years earlier, and Canada had revenge on its mind. But it wasn’t to be. A first period rebound goal by Bob Cleary and a second period slapshot by Paulie Johnson were all the scoring that the Americans needed to edge Canada 2-1.

Off a slapshot from John Mayasich, Cleary netted the first goal on a rebound, sneaking the puck past Canada’s Don Head as he was being checked from behind. Johnson’s goal would become the stuff of legend as he stole the puck from the Canadians leading to a breakaway. Instead of taking it in on goal, Johnson unloaded from just past the blueline, shocking an unprepared Head and making the tally 2-0.

Of course, holding Canada to one goal was no small feat, and of Jack McCartan’s performance in the net, his coach, Jack Riley, said “no goalie ever played as well as McCartan played that night.” The outstanding performance included 39 saves, most of which came in defense of the lead, as the Canadians controlled the game in every way but the score over the final two periods, outshooting the Americans 31-10 to close the game.

The victory put the US in control of their own medal destiny, with games against the USSR and Czechoslovakia standing between them and the USA’s first gold medal in ice hockey.

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USA vs Canada | February 25, 1960

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Feb. 24, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – Team USA runs their Olympic record to 4-0 with a 9-1 win over Germany. In the victory, Bill Cleary netted 4 goals and an assist and John Mayasich added two tallies. The US scored their first two goals on a Power Play after an interference penalty on Germany. The rules in international competition in 1960 required the player to serve the full two minutes of a minor penalty, even if a goal was scored. This allowed the US to capitalize twice on the same power play.

The win also kept the US in a first place medal round tie with a 2-0 record. Still, the US now faced their toughest competition with three games in four days against the best remaining teams in the tournament, Canada, the USSR and Czechoslovakia. The real competition would begin the following day, Feb. 25 when the US faced Canada.

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USA vs Germany | February 24, 1960

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Feb. 23, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – After one day of competition in the medal rounds, the USA, USSR and Canada all stand at 1-0. Sweden, Czechoslovakia and Germany drop to 0-1. Play resumes on Feb. 24.

Feb. 22, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – The USA starts medal round play with a 6-3 win over Sweden. Roger Christian nets a hat trick and goalie Jack McCartan continues his stellar play with 36 saves. Christian’s first goal came 3:26 into the game and the US added three more first period goals to take a 4-0 lead into the intermission. They would be outshot 28-19 in the final two periods, but thanks to McCartan the lead was never in jeopardy. The win puts the US at 1-0 in the championship round robin, with games yet to play against Germany, Canada, USSR and Czechoslovakia.

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USA vs Sweden | February 22, 1960

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Feb. 21, 1960 – Squaw Valley, CA – In a game that probably could’ve been even more lopsided, the US defeats Australia 12-1 to win Pool A and secure a spot in the championship round. They join Pool B winner Canada, Pool C winner USSR and second place finishers, Sweden, Germany and Czechoslovakia in the championship round. Australia’s team was comprised mainly of former Canadians. It would be their only Olympic ice hockey appearance after being eliminated in two games. For the USA, nine players would score a goal, and goalie Jack McCartan would only need 9 saves to seal their advancement.

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USA vs Australia | February 21 1960

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Goalie Saves