Every USA Olympic hockey team, ranked by miracles on ice

19. Calgary Olympics, 1988

With 1984 behind them, things had to get better, right? The Americans would soon bounce back and shock the world once again. There is no way they could struggle and finish outside of the medal round for a second straight year. The games were back in North America and Team USA were about to rebound. Right?

Narrator: They did not.

The 1988 squad had the same finish as the 1984 squad. The only difference is that they were not unbeaten in their last four games.

You might not believe this, but goaltending did the Americans in once more. Mike Ritcher and Chris Terrei were trusted with backstopping the Red, White, and Blue and they failed. Miserably. In six games they combined to allow 35 goals. That’s 5.8 goals-per-game. It’s tough to win hockey games when you’re giving up nearly six goals a game.

Team USA started the tournament with a resounding 10-6 victory over Austria. But giving up six goals against Austria was probably a bad sign. They scored five goals in games against Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. But gave up seven. They managed to prove superiority against Norway, who finished last once again, with a 6-3 victory before losing to West Germany and defeating Switzerland.

To recap, they beat the teams who finished 12th, eighth, and ninth.

At least they beat the teams they were supposed to beat? But it’s tough to pull off the upset….when you don’t pull off any upsets.

Cory Millen led the Americans with 11 points in six games. Captain Brian Leetch had six points.
Things were always going to be tough for Team USA following 1980’s miracle. But 1984 and 1988 did nothing to inspire hope.