Character mistake: While waiting for the plane with Team USA Herb Brooks watches TV news reporting that the NHL All-Star team has been defeated by the Soviets 6-0 in Game 3 of the 1979 Challenge Cup. The 1979 Challenge Cup took place in February, and Herb Brooks became the Team USA Coach only in June.
Character mistake: When Vladislav Tretiak was substituted by Vladimir Myshkin, Ken Dryden commented on this saying that Tretiak had been Tikhonov's bread and butter for a decade. Viktor Tikhonov became the Team USSR and Red Army Head Coach only in 1977, and he had never coached Tretiak on any level before.
Answer: Yes. Prior to the 1980 Olympics, the Soviet Union's men's hockey team had won 5 out of the last 6 Olympics (taking 3rd in 1960). They also won the next 2 Olympics (plus the 1992 Olympics as part of the Unified Team). The 1980 team also consisted of at least 6 returning gold medalists and several world champions and future gold medalists.
Bishop73
16-0 over Japan, 17-4 over the Netherlands, 8-1 over Poland, 4-2 vs Finland, and 6-4 vs Canada.