Last Friday was the anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, the
U.S.'s semifinal win over a terrifying Russian side at the 1980
Olympics. It was noted, as it is every year, since it's the
greatest moment in American hockey history, and marketable
too—Mike Eruzione took the auspicious day to auction off all his
Olympic gear.  But today's an anniversary too: 53 years ago, the
U.S. won their first hockey gold, at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw
Valley, Calif. It wasn't nearly as climactic—the Russians
weren't yet the unbeatable machine they would become, the medal
round was a round-robin, and perhaps most importantly to
history, the games weren't televised. But it was just as
unlikely. The Americans went undefeated, mowing through Sweden,
Canada, the USSR, and finally Czechoslovakia, the four strongest
teams in the world.  The final game, against the Czechs on Feb.
28, isn't much remembered. The final score was 9-4, and the
crucial game had come earlier, one-goal wins over eventual
silver and bronze winners Canada and the