The first documented game of ice hockey took place between Yale and Johns Hopkins universities in 1895. It made its Olympic debut in 1920 in Antwerp, but it wasn’t until 1972 in Sapporo that the sport exploded into a global phenomenon.
In the semifinal match against the Soviet team—which no American team had ever beaten—more than 10,000 people jammed into Blyth Arena to watch the action unfold. Then, in the opening minutes of the second period, Bill Cleary, the smallest player on the U.S. squad, took a pass from his brother, darted down the right side and stuffed a shot past Soviet goalie Nikolai Puchkov.
In a sport where players whirl around on skates, turning sharply with perfect ease and grace, this play was one of the most remarkable of the entire tournament. It set the tone for a game that would see the Americans overcome the Soviet dynasty, winning the first Olympic gold medal in a decade.
Today, the Olympics has a more diverse mix of nations earning medals. Canada remains the dominant force on the men’s side, with 23 medals in total, including 14 golds. But the United States isn’t far behind, having claimed eight golds in 1960 and 1980, and then reclaiming the title in 2002, 2010 and 2014. The U.S. and Canada are joined by Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland and Russia (as OAR) in claiming gold medals at the Games.