He does deserve a medal! That Russian team was the Best hockey team I've ever seen, and Herb Brooks molded the team we needed to win it all. Greatest Gold Medal Ever!!!
Ralph Cox and Herb Brooks remained on good terms through the years. In fact, Ralph Cox attends reunions with the 1980 team and maintains a close relationship with his former teammates. Craig Patrick and Ralph Cox won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early 90s.
Ironic that Cox has become one of the more famous players from the team even though he didn't actually play in the Olympics. He deserves the attention. He handled the situation with class and dignity.
Ray Gordon Teaches Chess yea kinda like the way your talking. This guy was a phenomenal hockey player at UNSC I think it was I wanna see u make a hockey. I want you to play hockey on the second or third highest level before you talk shit on one of the must humble men an I think I ever seen
I really, really liked the movie Miracle. I watch it a couple times a year, when I feel like I need some encouragement, some tough love. But hearing Ralph Cox tell the story of how he got cut-- it was a lot more emotional for Herb Brooks than what they showed in the film. Indeed, Herb had been in Ralph Cox's shoes exactly twenty years earlier, which was also the last time Team USA had won the gold medal. What this does show is what a first class guy Ralph Cox was and is.
A lot of people would have gotten down or mad. Ralph Cox took it like a man and even encouraged Herb and said what a great team they had and had confidence in his teammates and brothers even if he wasn't gonna be there. Great attitude and a real class act
As a UNH graduate, I take great pride in the fact that Ralph Cox was a phenomenal hockey player whom represented UNH in the most professional of manners. Thank you, Ralph...
It's a little known story about the Canadian team at Lake Placid. This was to be their return to the Olympics after a 12 year boycott of "amateur" international hockey In the pre Olympic head to head exhibition games they won 4 of 7 games vs the US and were thought the better team with a team built with young players along the same lines as the US. But the hockey Gods blessed the US and cursed Canada. Canada had exposed the Soviets invincibility and were beating them going into the third period, but the Soviets were able to come back. This showed the US that the Soviets were vulnerable. U.S. captain Mike Eruzione learned a lesson about the Soviets from Canada's game. "I thought the Canadians had them on the ropes and let them off, in my head, I'm thinking, 'If we ever had them in that position, we wouldn't let them off.'" The Canadians then gave up a fluke goal that ran the length of the ice vs Finland and a Dutch team full of Canadians was able to get an upset result against Poland which kept Canada out of the medal round. It's almost never spoken about and painful to this day for the players, it's like the 1980 Olympics never happened for Canadian hockey. Many of the Canadian players went on to have good NHL careers: Glenn Anderson, Dr Randy Gregg (we had a surgeon too (see Bill Baker), Paul MacLean, Tim Watters and Jim Nill to name a few. This was just to tell the story not to diminish in any way what the US had accomplished
Aw man being the last cut would absolutely suck beyond all belief. Especially after the success that the team ultimately would meet. Congrats to Ralph a real man in the way he speaks about this difficult time in his early life. Never bashes the legend of Herb or the quality of the members that made the team.
Cox suffered a leg injury that cost him his spot. He was actually more productive than at least 3-4 of the forwards who made the team before his injury.
And this is why Herb wanted to focus on the team as their coach, not a friend or father figure, simply the coach because he knew very tough moments like telling Ralph he wasn't on the team were going to come up and he did not want to become that personal with his team. Kurt Russel did a great job in the film bringing that humility to the role.
I grew up in Minneapolis and skated with and against many of these guys, Herbie was also our coach in Summer hockey, including Ken Yackel hockey school. Herbie was also a personal friend of my uncle that coached at Mahtomedi.. great memories 🏒🥅
I was born and raised in Lake Placid. I was 11 years old in 1980 and played in the Lake Placid youth hockey program. During the Olympics we had the whole time off from school and snuck into many games including the final gold medal game against Finland, whom had many stars including Yari Kurri. We idolized all those players including Ralph Cox and we even played a bunch of games on the Olympic rink which looked huge to us. Great memories
John, you were sure a lucky person to experience those whole 2 weeks there. Lake Placid will never lose its luster. That experience will live forever. I'd love to go there someday.
Coach Brooks knew exactly what he was going to put Ralph through for the rest of his life...being the last man cut to what would go on, unbeknownst to them of course, to winning a gold medal Olympic team...
representing our nation on that stage, much less win, is a dream many of us will have but never experience. To stand before all else and be the best your nation has on offer. So to get that close is understandably soul crushing. Especially if you're on the brink of other life choices such as continuing with the sport and or moving on into other realms of your life.
Remarkable how much Cox looks like the actor who played him in the first picture. As to the second pic, Herb didn't allow facial hair. He made only one exception and that was for Ken Morrow. Morrow went on to win four straight Cups with the Isles who initiated the playoff beard tradition. Morrow may have been the source, the original playoff beard guy.
When the Islanders got Goring their fans knew we had the entire puzzle. He was the final piece. It was not easy being an Islander fan living in Manhattan, that's for sure.
When Kurt (as Herb) is sitting on his couch on Christmas Eve while the team is playing football in the snow and you watch Kurt you just know he’s thinking about the fact he’s going to have to cut Ralph Cox and he doesn’t want to do it but he didn’t have a choice. The film did a good job setting things up when the team was being picked and Herb tells the team he would only be their coach and not their friends because he knew when that moment came that he had to let Ralph go it would be one of the hardest moments ever as a coach.
There is a very interesting RU-vid movie reaction to Miracle. After the Christmas party when Herb is driving home, the woman reactor says "Oh no, he's going to have a car accident?" Sadly that came true.
This is the reason why this is one of the very rare moments ever in the history of sports. A true TEAM. With guys making sacrafices that had to be so hard. Yet were not bitter. But actually inspired.
I proudly have the "Northland" 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team poster hanging up on a wall, in my office. Ralph was in the picture and was a part of that team - just as much as any of the other players pictured. Everything in life happens for a reason. And one thing is for certain, we can't determine our fate.
herb brooks the greatest coach and hockey mind that the us ever produced. before lake placid like what he accomplished at the university of minnesota. herb brooks and the 1980 usa hockey team are an american treasure. what they accomplished never be forgotten. i was 12 at the time, and that was one special weekend.
Big up's Ralph Cox! I never knew the story until watching Miracle with Kurt Russell. I know it must have been devastating for you. You coming public to tell your side of the story is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Cox and Hughes were last two players cut. They were easily as good as any of the bottom 8 players on that roster if not better. Cox is a total class act. In the end Herb won so it's very tough to knock his decisions. He had a plan and he stuck to it.
Lot of the players benefited from about 6-7 guys that either went the Junior route or went pro after their senior years. That D Corp would have looked much different with Laneway, Dunn and Roberts on it. Christian would have moved back to center and Mullen would have been a lock.
@@KMK7355 goes to show that you always have to be ready and training, even if you aren't the best/at your best, and even if tbh you aren't that great, because you never know what's gonna happen next to the guys right in front of you in the line.
Hockey was very sectional in the USA back when these players were 18-22. Lot of them had never seen each other play, so weren't aware of each other until the US Olympic Sports Festival in 1978.
I've read research that Jack Hughes was technically the last guy cut. Both Hughes and Cox were told to meet Herb before the sendoff. Cox met Herb first and Hughes after. Hughes, like some on the team, wasn't Brooks' greatest fan and the meeting was apparently not as sentimental as the Cox meeting. When consulting for the movie Herb preferred to remember the Cox meeting. Semantics yes, but not the story that has become legend.
I was never quite good enough in sports during my school years to make the first team. So in my own way I understand what Ralph Cox went through. To be so close to your goal, so close to your dream and have it snatched away because you were not quite good enough. Just fell a little bit short of the mark. But at least he went on to have a successful hockey career in Europe, then scouting career in the NHL and then business.
He was good enough. He was coming off an injury? Not sure how you are comparing yourself playing JV and never varsity as the same as missing out on the 1980 Olympic Hockey team?
Brooks was the last player cut by Coach Riley from the 1960 Olympic Hockey Team. Got to meet many times Coach Riley at West Point where he was their Hockey Coach. Team played at Smith Rink back then. He has some real good teams. U,S, won that Gold too. At Smith Rink, fans went out side to warm up.
Wow not one negative word this is the type of person i strive to be everyday this could have crushed him but it didnt and in the long run has made him the awsome human being he is he didnt physically skates on the ice play in the Olympics be he was there i do know that at that moment alot of the players thought of him and considered him part of the team! An awsome man much respect!
Kinda crazy, my girlfriend was the last girl cut from the 98’ USA women’s hockey team that won gold. She was the captain at Boston College. I grew up in Alaska. We met in Hawaii. Life is weird.
Wonder if he ever thought about coaching Team USA at the 2000 Winter Olympics? Kenneth Mitchell gives his character a deserving portrayal in the 2004 movie, Miracle.
Well yaa they have 2 hours to capture like a whole year worth of stuff. Hell they coulda made the entire movie based on the last 2 games they played entirely and still missed stuff
That scene is always hard to watch in the movie when he gets cut, but the mutual respect they showed with their parting words was wonderful. "Thank you for giving me a chance, coach." "Thank YOU for giving me your best."
From 2 Stanley Cups to Real Estate, from the pinnacle of professional sports to the arm pit of professions... I’m a Realtor (a member of the National Association of Realtors), I should know...lol Just kidding, Real Estate is a great profession. I was truly moved when I learned that Herb was the last player cut from the 1960 Olympic team and as the clock ticked down he was thinking of this gentleman. That speaks volumes about Herb’s character.
Imagine the emotional pain and sorrow of having to inflict on someone else one of your own worst personal heartbreaks, and knowing there's no other way.
If the USA hockey team were allowed to carry 21 players Cox would've been on the team l know it sucks to play your guts out to show heart towards the team to get "cut" but from seeing this & from what l read Ralph Cox handled it like a man many years his senior
They increased the size of the teams to 23 in 1988. Some of the players on the 1980 Team benefited from having several players turn pro early. Guys like Harrington, Verchota and Wells likely wouldn't have made the squad if Mullen, Gorence and Nilan hadn't gone pro early.
He was the not the last man cut it was my Dad Jack Hughes the true last man cut from the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team. My Dad went onto the Colorado Rockies.
As General Manager of the Penguins, Craig Patrick hired Cox to be a scout. Cox was awarded with Stanley Cup rings in 1991 and 1992. After the Pens won the Cup in 1992, special permission was granted to allow Cox's name to be engraved on the Cup, an honor usually only granted to the players, at the time.
Was shocked and saddened to learn a few years ago that the fine actor Kenneth Mitchell, who played Coxy in the 2004 D!sney film 'Miracle', suffers with Lou Gehrig's disease/ALS. He now uses a chair and a digitzed voice assistant.
It's really good to hear that Ralph Cox had no ill will towards Herb Brooks because cutting him was not personal. Unfortunately it is the only way to get the best 20 on the team.
I saw the US team play live on December 27th, 1979 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, my hometown, at the old Broadmoor World Arena. They played a Russian team, not THE Russian team, and Team USA won the game. It was a very good game. But I distinctly remember that I thought Ralph Cox was the best player on the ice that night, by far. He had this huge bushy mustache that really stood out so he was very recognizable. Now I will admit that I was 13 years old at the time. Turned 14 in Jan '80, before the Olympics. But I knew my hockey. I was around hockey a lot. And I remember watching the Olympics themselves wondering 'where the hell is Ralph Cox?'
To truly understand the greatnesss of Herb Brooks, you have to see this interview. "At that moment when the final seconds tick down, and you knew you were going to win the gold medal, what were you thinking about?" 2:48 In the most transparent comment of any coach in history, Herb Brooks says: "Ralph Cox." The Miracle on Ice is my absolute favorite sports story, and a big reason for that is the mind, the toughness and the heart of head coach, Herb Brooks.
Often times the Best Coaches are the ones who never had the opportunity to win it all as a Player. Scotty Bowman was a superb Coach brought to two superb Stanley Cup Title run Teams winning 5 in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 with the Montreal Canadiens, one with the Pittsburgh Penguins and 3 with the Detroit Red Wings. I wish Herb Brooks could have had an opportunity to have coached a couple of those Stanley Cup Winning Teams in Detroit, Colorado and Pittsburgh.
Wonder why the movie didn’t show Ralph’s injury? It was the only reason why he didn’t make the final 20, he didn’t have enough time to get fully up to speed.
What a class act! I went to UMn undergraduate and law school, graduating in 1976 and had season tickets while in school and after until 2010 so I watched a lot of Brooks’ college teams I agree about Herb being a great coach And what a class act Ralph Cox is! Does anyone have any idea what his injury was?
It was an ankle injury which is death for a hockey player. Cox was a pure goal scorer and its very unlikely he would have been cut if he was healthy. He wasn't as fast as guys like Strobel or Christoff or Pavelich but he skated fine.
Sir, I’ve watched the 1980 miracle from 50 different angles and in this one interview, you just put yourself back on the 1980 team. God bless you and Merry Christmas.
sjlaxmac2014 yeah the assistant coach Craig comes to tell Ralph that Herb wants to see him and Ralph has that look on his face that he knows this is it for him.
Robert Durant The scene in the film wasn't as emotional on Brooks part. I remember thinking when I first saw the film, "Damn, Brooks knows exactly what this kid is feeling, and might feel for a very long time, if not his whole life...he's playing it a little cold." And I've rewatched the film a bunch and still always wondered about that scene. Now, whenever I watch it, I'll remember that Brooks did empathize with him.
There were actually six players who played with the team before the Olympics, who were cut. Jack Hughes was one of them. The movie, Miracle, made it seem as if Ralph Cox was the only player cut.
Because he was the last and an injury did him in. He was better than Mark Wells for certain. Brooks could have shifted Eric Stobel to center if Cox was healthy.
Herb. Knew how he felt. Because it happened to him. Great job Herb! The 1980 Hockey Team. Changed America. We were down in America then. Just turned 20 years old. Job's were hard to find people laid - off. Carter was killing America. With his Liberal Idea's. Interest rates were really high. So was gas if you could find it to buy. But just getting a chance to play for The U.S. must have been a thrill of a life time! Shawn.
He wasn't the last guy cut. Jack Hughes was the last man cut. That said, Cox was a class act and worked with Coach Brooks in later years and we're good friends. Brooks and Hughes are the real story. They hated each other. Brooks was partial to the MN and WI players and that's the likely reason Cox and Hughes were cut because there were 5 guys worse then them on that team. If Jack Parker had been the coach, and he nearly was these two Harvard and UNH standouts would not likely have gone home. When is the history on this going to be corrected?
@@KMK7355 Korn was offered a two way minor league min contract with a signing bonus having been selected in by Detroit in the 77 draft as the 1st selection in the 5th round. He held off playing to see if he could get a slot. He played only a few games in the AHL just as the Olympics started and then was in the NHL in Dec 79 a few weeks before the final roster cuts. Not sure he was better but as a Providence College standout who was born in Minnisota but grew up in Canada there was no way Coach Brooks was picking him he had duel citizenship.
Jim Korn was born and raised in Hopkins, Minnesota. I have no idea where you are getting your information from. I worked with a gal from Minnesota who went to HS with him.
