Today in sports: 33 years since "Miracle on Ice"

In a country that embraces the underdog, Friday marked 33 years since one of the greatest sports stories of all time.

On Feb. 22 of 1980, the United States hockey team beat heavily favored Russia 4-3 in the medal round of the Winter Olympics in New York, an upset of such epic proportions that it became to be known as the “Miracle on Ice.”

Thirty-three years later, USA hockey team member Jim Craig could still recall the moment and its significance.

33 years ago today my teammates and I helped make America proud again.

— Jim Craig (@JimCraigUSA) February 22, 2013

@jimcraigusa I can still hear the Chants USA USA and how proud it made our TEAM feel to represent OUR country god bless our soldiers

— Jim Craig (@JimCraigUSA) February 22, 2013

Tweets from other former U.S. Olympic team members, current NHL stars and teams were rampant in remembrance of the accomplishment, which prompted sportscaster Al Michaels to coin the famous sports phrase “do you believe in miiracles?” The game was chronicled in all-time sports moment lists by Sports Illustrated and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Matt Petersen is the Sports Web Editor for DeseretNews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @TheMattPetersen.