One Goal: A Chronicle of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

by John Powers, Arthur C. Kaminsky

The thrilling story of how the US hockey team, against great odds, won the gold in the 1980 Olympics.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, Nonfiction, History

257 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1984

Reviews

[Jeffrey Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Powers and Arthur Kaminsky gave a very detailed accounting of the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. If you were lucky enough to be alive to watch that Olympic games, the memories will come flooding back. (I was eight-years old at the time and it was the first Olympic games that I had watched on television.) They begin the book by giving the proper context to the history of the U.S. Olympic Hockey teams (with more of a focus since 1960 when the U.S. won their first gold medal), the selection of Herb Brooks as the coach, his system of player evaluation and training bringing in the Lake Placid games and their aftermath as the perfect crescendo.

In some ways, however, it was too detailed - especially if you are not from Minnesota, Massachusetts, lower Michigan or Wisconsin, where most of the players are from. As they write about the player's backgrounds, they jump around a lot geographically-speaking, which made it disjointed in some parts.

Overall, I found this to be an entertaining and very informative read.

[Lael Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly pretty great. A detailed look into both Herb and the team and what made them work together so uniquely. Learned a LOT about how Minnesota high school hockey works, which is not something I knew I needed!

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! Just like the movie "Miracle" + some extra facts.

[Mark R. McCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice insight into the 1980 U.S. hockey team. If you have any interest in this subject, HBO's "Do You Believe in Miracles" is mandatory viewing. It contains segments that still make me cry and inspire.