Ice hockey is a popular sport in many countries around the world. It’s governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation, which was founded on 15 May 1908. There are 59 full member nations and 22 associate members in the organization. The IIHF is the only governing body in the world that regulates the sport at the international level.
Olympic ice hockey debuted in 1920, but it wasn’t until 1986 that the IOC allowed NHL players to compete at the Games. Prior to that time, players were amateurs and played on teams made up of other professional players from their country.
The game was a defensive battle for most of the first period in the semifinal between the U.S. and Czechoslovakia. The Americans trailed 2-0, but scored two unanswered goals in the second period and another in the third to take a 5-3 lead. The Czechs then rallied to force a shootout, where Shero won it after making a spectacular sprawling save on Philadelphia Flyers center Eric Lindros.
During the shootout, it was decided that a player must touch the puck before it crosses over the goal line for a shot to count. That’s when Johnson, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time, got his chance. He slid the puck in between two Soviet defenders, but it barely crossed the line before bouncing out of play.
The game was a classic example of the adage that if it’s not in the air, it’s not in the house. The shot put the United States in front to advance to the final against Finland, where they would win the gold medal.