In the wee hours of the morning at Beijing’s National Indoor Stadium, the United States men’s hockey team defeated Canada for the first time in 12 years.
Thanks to goals from Andy Miele, Ben Meyers, Brendan Brisson and Kenny Agostino, the U.S. was able to defeat Canada by a score of 4-2 in the group stage. It was the first time they’d defeated the Canadians on the Olympic level in over a decade.
With the victory, the United States now has six points and sits atop the group. They face Germany to close out the preliminary round in the coming days.
While many publication were quick to exaggerate the United States’ victory, none did so with the boldness of CNN, which compared the win to the ‘Miracle on Ice’.
For those unfamiliar, the ‘Miracle on Ice’ was a victory over the heavily-favored Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1980 Olympic games in the middle of the Cold War. So, there was a little more on the line.
2022 Olympics: CNN went a little too far, gets dragged for it
Even the United States players and coaches thought CNN made a little bit of a stretch on this occasion. It’s only the group stage, after all.
“I guess it is a little similar with all these college guys,” said Team USA left wing Sean Farrell.
Olympic hockey fans on Twitter were quick to point out the error in judgement as well.
The miracle and ice was a American team who weren't expected to even get in the finals of beating the best team in the world Possibly, adding on cold war implications. This isn't that.
— cooool cool cool cool (@sane_opinion) February 12, 2022
This is not even close to 1980. Stop it.
— Patrick Laverty (@plaverty24) February 12, 2022
CNN conjured the idea that anybody compared last night to the Miracle On Ice. https://t.co/7gPqFH1xjK
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) February 12, 2022
Tell us you don't know sports without telling us you don't know sports. https://t.co/izCrHNJBzc
— Jasen Sokol (@JasenSokol) February 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/Rachid_I/status/1492533868359999493
I mean, I know that the viewership of the Games is on a historic low in the US, but come on. https://t.co/nH3DOMqWux
— Adam Kosnáč (@scoooty27) February 12, 2022
Watched all of last night’s game. No where close to the Miracle on Ice. https://t.co/33daKpdNro
— Brent Pearson (@b_pearson) February 12, 2022
who in their right mind is comparing this to 1980? https://t.co/f6r9Yxfyc5
— Danny Leaphart (@jumpnaorta) February 12, 2022
Not quite, but whatever https://t.co/uMjccuqsuI
— Brayton J. Wilson (@BraytonJWilson) February 12, 2022
Try again, broadcast company that pays no attention to sport ball. https://t.co/ybOjHCRTBS
— Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) February 12, 2022
Once again, we understand that Olympic hockey viewership is down this season — in part because no NHL players are on the rosters — but we don’t need this kind of exaggeration. It doesn’t go anyone any good, especially the actual Olympians trying to bring home a medal for their country.
Lay off, CNN.