As part of their sponsorship, Michelob is supporting the USA Hockey teams, and highlighting in their marketing athletes like Alpine downhill racer Breezy Johnson, bobsledder Kaysha Love and speedskater Kristen Santos-Griswold. As a way of building athlete and fan enthusiasm, a big push is through showcasing the energy and excitement of the 1980 hockey game, the Miracle on Ice.

Most people had no idea what to expect on Jan. 15 other than a holographic presentation and several members of the original team in attendance. Upon arrival, those with reservations were given tickets that featured their section, row and seat, two tickets they could exchange for free beer and the chance to swap stories for 90 minutes in the Roamers Lounge on the second floor of the Miracle Plaza before the doors to the arena opened. Swap stories they did.

“I was 17 and watched the game on TV,” said Tom Beneway of Wappinger Falls. “I remember the excitement it created, so when I saw this opportunity to come to Lake Placid and relive what it was like, I immediately signed up. It’s something that every sports fan and every American has to see. The game united the country. They were just a bunch of college kids that beat a team that absolutely destroyed us previously in Madison Square Garden.”

“It’s very special to be in this facility for this event tonight,” said Keith Clark. “I got a feeling that the American team is going to come out on top. I’m predicting victory.”

“I attended the 1980 game,” said Kelly LaHart Collins. “It was the most kinetic auditorium I’ve ever been in during my life. I thought my hair was going to burst into flames. It was so exciting. I highly recommend watching the documentary 30 for 30: “Of Miracles and Men” by the Russian 1980 Olympic team that talks a lot about their culture of hockey and what happened in that game, and afterwards.”

“Main street was packed,” said Dan Wikoff, then 14. “They had the most amazing fireworks and a free arcade on Mirror Lake. During the Games, I was selling the Knickerbocker News.”

An added feature at the Roamers Lounge was a presentation by the Olympic Museum staff, featuring examples of 1980 medals and the chance to be photographed holding the 1980 Olympic torch.

“The torch is a real piece of American history, so we are very glad to be a part of this event and experience it firsthand,” said Aaron Young after holding the torch with his girlfriend, Sarah Sulat.

One who did have an idea of what people would be experiencing was Chadd Cassidy, general manager of the Olympic Center. “I was young at the time, but I still remember very vividly more than anything the emotion and the positive energy that was in Lake Placid and how excited people were,” said Cassidy. “There is still a lot of that energy coming in tonight. I think it’s going to be an awesome event.”

“I was 14 during the Olympics, walking down the street, and a Soviet man asked me if I wanted to trade my jacket for his,” said Carlin Devlin, sporting a Soviet CCCP jersey. “We just traded right there on the street. While I am getting a lot of ribbing, people of a certain age group don’t even know what CCCP means.”

The side of the Arena facing Cummings Road and the two ends were used by the Michelob Ultra tech team, and the opposite side was set aside for attendees who looked through a fine-mesh screen toward a long, curved wall along the center of the ice. The audience could also see the scoreboard that followed the game’s progression. After Kim Weems’ stirring singing of the national anthem, the presentation featured highlights of the games, all called in 1980 with remarkable dexterity by Sandy Caligiore, then a radio announcer for WNBZ. The holographic technology allowed the audience to follow the intense action of the 1980 Games, where it actually took place on the ice as ghost-like athletes raced back and forth, checking each other, and the Soviets barraged US goalie Jim Craig with shot after shot. Certain moments were detailed with photographs and video on the fine mesh screen. Attendees on Jan. 15 got carried away, screaming, cheering, and chanting USA, USA, along with the recorded voices.

“It’s unbelievable being here today,” said Trevor Gilligan. “I wasn’t alive yet. I was born in 1985, but my dad having been here and seeing all the pictures we have in the basement, and growing up with him telling all his buddies’ stories about being here, I feel that I kind of lived it. My being here and being part of what he was able to experience, I feel a part of its history, its tradition.”

After the game, 1980 ABC Sports broadcasters Al Michaels conducted an interview on the ice with Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, and Mark Johnson.

“It was spectacular to see and relive the game with all the people here,” said Mike Eruzione, Captain of the 1980 team. “This event was pretty special.”

“I thought Michelob did an amazing job of putting this together,” said Art Lussi. “I feel so privileged to have seen this presentation. I just wish that people across the United States would get a similar opportunity. I feel that it’s an amazing springboard for our two amazing hockey teams going to Milan.”

“This story of what happened at the 1980 Games will never go away,” said Sandy Caligiore. “I’ve been asked many, many times about USA Hockey’s future at the Olympics, can we win a gold medal. I feel there is no question, we will win a men’s gold medal because we have so much great talent in this country, but it will never be like this one.”

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley and has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005.)