Every USA Olympic hockey team, ranked by miracles on ice

11. Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympics, 1936

After going home with silver in the first three Winter Olympics, the 1936 group walked away with bronze.

It was a trying time for Team USA. So used to being second place, they did not understand how big of a failure it was to get third. When prior Olympic teams would return home, they were greeted with big cheers and free drinks. With the 1936 returned to the United States, they were greeted with small cheers and 50 percent off drinks. Imagine the disappointment on the face of Jack Garrison when he had to reach in his pocket and give the bartender his last quarter. Not even the two drinks he got in return for that quarter was enough to cure his sadness.

Garrison led the team in scoring with four points. If you love a lack of celebrating, hockey in the 1920s and 30s was the sport for you. Team USA opened the tournament with back-to-back shutouts over Germany (1-0) and Switzerland (3-0) before losing in 2-1 in overtime against Italy. More shutouts as USA beat Czechoslovakia and Austria by scores of 2-0 and 1-0.

A 0-0 tie against Great Britain set up a semifinal showdown with Canada. USA would lose 1-0. Instead of playing a final round, the committee decided that whatever happened in the previous round would count as the finals. Thus, Team USA walked away with bronze because they defeated Czechoslovakia earlier in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Great Britain won gold over Canada because they won their second-round game.

If you think Ol’ Garrison had it bad in America. Imagine how Canadians felt when they returned home with silver. Poor guys were only given hugs instead of kisses.