Factual error: There indeed was a moment in the game (vs. USSR) where Jim Craig was shaken up, but contrary to what's shown in the movie, the hit did not happen as the Soviets scored a goal. Furthermore, if a goalie is that flagrantly knocked down and out so that a teammate can get a shot off, it should be a two-minute penalty for "goaltender interference" and the goal disallowed.
Miracle (2004)
Plot summary
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Starring: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Noah Emmerich, Nathan West
True story of how U.S. hockey coach Herb Brooks takes a ragtag group of American college hockey players to the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and upsets everyone, including the Soviet Union and Finland in the medal round, to win the Gold medal.
More mistakes in Miracle
Herb Brooks: Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world.
Trivia: The 3,000 extras used to sit in the stands and act as crowd noise did an excellent job of chanting "USA! USA!", especially since they were all Canadians.
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Answer: Since they all came from different, sometimes rival, universities, and thus had no commonality, he wanted to give them someone to dislike together, instead of fighting with one another. If they could all bond over what a bastard Brooks was, they'd come together faster as a team and have a chance of winning.