Lake Placid, New York

We visited Lake Placid, New York on a recent day trip. Most Americans (at least ones my age) associate Lake Placid with the Miracle on Ice. In the 1980 winter Olympics, unheralded US mens hockey team defeated the juggernaut that the Soviet hockey team was in that era.

Here is the famous call "Do you believe in Miracles?" by Al Michaels (signed by Al Michaels) as the clock ran out on the improbable US victory over the Soviets in 1980. The statue is US Coach Herb Brooks celebrating on the bench at the end of the game.

The rink was renamed the 1980 Rink - Herb Brooks Arena.

The original arena is still standing but it was refurbished in 2023.

The three members of the 1980 team that have passed away are honored with their jerseys hung in the rafters at the rink.

Here's a pano of the rink for fun 🙂

Inside the arena there is a small Olympic museum with even more Miracle of Ice memorabilia.

The museum displays include items from the 1932 Olympics in addition to the 1980 Olympics. Lake Placid has hosted twice and New York is working on another bid for the 2042 games.

Lake Placid has an outdoor speed skating rink that was used for both Olympics. Another star for the US in 1980 was Eric Heiden. Heiden won 5 speed skating events setting Olympic records in all 5. Heiden amazingly won at 500M, 1000M, 1500M, 5000M and 10000M.

These last two photos were taken from the outdoor balcony on the front of the rink. You can see the Adirondack mountains in the distance including Whiteface Mountain. On the right of the picture you can see the two ski jump towers.