1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team captain Mike Eruzione, right, watches his team play during the 2024 Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp at the Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena — the same arena where the famed “Miracle on Ice” game against the Soviet Union was played during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid. (Provided photo — ORDA)

LAKE PLACID — Dozens of fans of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team visited the Olympic Center this week to compete and spend time with the Olympians during the 8th annual Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp.

The MOI Fantasy Camp began in the spring of 2015 shortly after the 35th anniversary celebration of the famous game — when the underdog U.S. team beat the heavily favored Soviet Union team 4-3 before winning the gold-medal game 4-2 against Finland during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.

The camp was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic but resumed in 2022, 2023 and this year.

Campers play their games, which are coached by the 1980 Olympians, in the same arena where the “Miracle on Ice” match was played on Feb. 22, 1980. In 2005, for the 25th anniversary celebration, the arena at the Olympic Center was named for 1980 Olympic hockey team head coach Herb Brooks, who died in 2003.

Thirteen of the 18 surviving members of 1980 hockey team participated in the fantasy camp this year: Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Dave Christian, Mike Eruzione, John Harrington, Steve Janaszak, Mark Johnson, Rob McClanahan, Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Buzz Schneider, Phil Verchota and Mark Wells.

Coaches and players watch the action during the 2024 Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp at the Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. This was the same arena where the famed “Miracle on Ice” match against the Soviet Union was played during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. The underdog U.S. team beat the heavily favored Soviets 4-3. Fantasy camp teams are coached by members of the 1980 U.S. hockey team. (Provided photo — ORDA)

Living teammates who did not attend were Steve Christoff, Jim Craig, Jack O’Callahan, Dave Silk and Eric Strobel.

Defenseman Bob Suter died in 2014, and forward Mark Pavelich died in 2021.

In addition, two other non-players from the 1980 team were in attendance during this year’s camp: assistant coach Craig Patrick and head athletic trainer Gary “Smitty” Smith.

The camp was sold out this year with 65 campers, according to state Olympic Regional Development Authority officials. The youngest camper was 21, and the oldest was 76.

There were seven parent/sibling pairs, including many who were father/child, such as Rob McClanahan and his daughter. Thirteen campers were newcomers, and nine have been to all eight years of the Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp.

Players line up before a game during the 2024 Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp in the Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. (Provided photo — ORDA)

The director of the camp again was former ORDA employee Katie Million, who is currently the director of women’s national team programs for USA Hockey.

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One season in three days

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For the most part, the fantasy camp is treated like a real professional hockey season, only boiled down to three days of intensity.

Coaches and players watch the action during the 2024 Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camp at the Olympic Center’s Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. This was the same arena where the famed “Miracle on Ice” match against the Soviet Union was played during the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. The underdog U.S. team beat the heavily favored Soviets 4-3. Fantasy camp teams are coached by members of the 1980 U.S. hockey team. (Provided photo — ORDA)

Campers skated on the Olympic Center ice Monday morning so members of the 1980 U.S. hockey team could evaluate their skills. The Olympians then conducted a draft Monday afternoon, selecting players to fill four teams: Red, White, Blue and Gold. After the teams were filled, had their team meetings and the players participated in practice time on the ice.

Teams played three games each, Tuesday morning and afternoon and Wednesday morning, before moving on to either the bronze-medal game or the gold-medal game Wednesday afternoon. A medal ceremony was held afterward before the campers and Olympians posed for the official fantasy camp photo was taken on the ice.