APPLETON, Wis. — Mike Eruzione, the captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that pulled off the legendary 'Miracle on Ice,' has publicly criticized American skier Hunter Hess for comments expressing reluctance to fully represent the United States at the upcoming Olympics. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly Twitter, Eruzione took aim at Hess's remarks, which were made amid ongoing controversies surrounding the Trump administration's immigration policies. The exchange highlights tensions between patriotic fervor in American sports and athletes' personal views on national politics.
Eruzione, who scored the game-winning goal in the U.S. team's stunning 4-3 upset over the Soviet Union on Feb. 22, 1980, at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, responded sharply to Hess on Saturday. 'Hunter Hess US snowboarder saying he doesn’t represent his country but his family and friends,' Eruzione wrote on X. 'Then don’t put on the USA uniform maybe just put for family and friends. Some athletes just don’t get it.' The post, which drew significant attention before being removed, echoed a broader backlash against Hess and his teammate Chris Lillis for their statements during a recent interview.
Hess, a freestyle skier competing in halfpipe events, and Lillis, a fellow Team USA athlete, spoke out about their mixed feelings on donning the Stars and Stripes. Their comments came in the context of heightened scrutiny over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations under the Trump administration, including family separations at the border and related protests. Lillis, who has competed internationally for years, emphasized his love for the country while expressing heartbreak over current events.
'I love the USA. I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics,' Lillis said in the interview. 'With that being said, a lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things. I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States. I’m pretty sure you’re referencing ICE and some of the protests and things like that.' He added that the nation should focus on 'respecting everybody’s rights and making sure that we’re treating our citizens as well as anybody, with love and respect.'
Lillis further explained his perspective on what it means to compete for Team USA. 'I hope that when people look at athletes compete in the Olympics, they realize that that’s the America we’re trying to represent,' he said. His remarks, shared during a podcast appearance, quickly spread on social media, prompting a wave of criticism from those who viewed them as unpatriotic.
Hess, who recently competed in the men’s ski halfpipe final at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on Jan. 9, 2026, at Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort in Aspen, Colorado, went a step further in expressing his ambivalence. 'It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard,' Hess said. 'There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.'
The skier clarified that his participation was more personal than national. 'I think, for me, it’s more I’m representing my friends and family back home, the people that represented it before me, all the things that I believe are good about the U.S.,' Hess continued. 'If it aligns with my moral values, I feel like I’m representing it. Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S. I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here.'
Eruzione's reaction taps into a long-standing tradition of Olympians embodying national pride, a theme central to his own career. The 1980 hockey victory, often called the 'Miracle on Ice,' not only secured a gold medal for the underdog Americans but also united a divided nation during the Cold War era. Eruzione, now 70, has remained a symbol of that triumph, frequently appearing at events to celebrate American resilience. A new Netflix documentary, released earlier this year, explores how the victory 'united America in 1980,' drawing parallels to today's polarized climate.
The controversy isn't isolated. Recent discussions in media circles have amplified concerns about America's image abroad. CNN host Audie Cornish and New York Magazine's Will Leitch, during a podcast episode last week, suggested that the U.S. could emerge as the 'global villain' at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Their comments referenced ongoing domestic divisions, including immigration policies, as factors that might overshadow athletic achievements.
Social media erupted following Hess and Lillis's statements, with users accusing the athletes of disrespecting the uniform and the sacrifices of past Olympians. Supporters, however, defended their right to voice dissent, arguing that true patriotism includes critiquing one's country. Eruzione's post, though deleted, was screenshot and shared widely, fueling debates about the role of politics in sports.
Team USA officials have not yet commented directly on the remarks, but sources close to U.S. Ski and Snowboard, the governing body, indicated that athletes are encouraged to focus on performance while respecting diverse viewpoints. The organization oversees more than 400 athletes across disciplines, including skiing and snowboarding, and has navigated similar controversies in the past, such as protests during the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
The timing of this flap is particularly sensitive as preparations ramp up for the 2026 Games, set to begin on Feb. 6 in Milan. With events spread across northern Italy, including high-profile skiing venues in the Dolomites, American athletes like Hess—who trains in Park City, Utah—face intense pressure to perform amid global scrutiny. Hess's recent silver medal at the Aspen event underscores his potential to medal, adding weight to his words.
Eruzione, who last appeared publicly alongside hockey stars like Auston Matthews and Wayne Gretzky during the 4 Nations Face-Off on Feb. 20, 2025, at TD Garden in Boston, has a history of outspokenness on national pride. In interviews following the 1980 Games, he often recounted the exhibition match against the Soviets on Feb. 9, 1980, at Madison Square Garden in New York, where the handshakes symbolized sportsmanship amid rivalry.
As the Olympics approach, this incident raises questions about unity in American sports. Will athletes like Hess and Lillis face formal repercussions, or will their views spark broader conversations on representation? For now, the backlash continues online, with Eruzione's deleted post serving as a flashpoint. Observers note that while the 'Miracle on Ice' generation championed unyielding patriotism, younger athletes grapple with a more complex national identity.
In Appleton, where community pride in American achievements runs deep—home to Olympians like speed skater Bonnie Blair—the story resonates locally. Blair, a five-time medalist, has not weighed in, but her legacy reminds residents of the Olympics' power to inspire. As debates simmer, all eyes turn to how Team USA navigates these divides on the international stage.
— Emily Chen, The Appleton Times