The 1960 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team brought home an improbable gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games Palisades Tahoe 1960, beating some of the biggest powers in the hockey world on its way to victory. Coached by Jack Riley, the team was not even expected to make the medal rounds, yet they trounced Australia and Czechoslovakia to advance. After upsetting both Finland and Germany, the U.S. defeated the heavily favored Canadians in the semifinal, 2-1, behind goalie Jack McCarten’s 39 saves. To cap off its improbable run, the U.S. defeated the Soviet Union in one of the greatest third periods of hockey history. Down 4-3 entering the final period, the young U.S. team rallied to win 9-4 in a stunning and emphatic victory. It was the country’s first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey.