As Canada prepares for the highly anticipated 4 Nations tournament, head coach Jon Cooper has drawn inspiration from an unlikely source—one of hockey’s most legendary underdog stories, the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice.’ While the event is best remembered as the moment a young, unproven Team USA stunned the dominant Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics, Cooper sees a deeper lesson beyond just the upset.

For many in the hockey world, the “Miracle on Ice” is a symbol of defying the odds, but for Cooper, it represents something even more essential: team cohesion, belief, and preparation. Speaking to reporters ahead of the 4 Nations tournament, Cooper explained how Herb Brooks’ approach to building that U.S. team resonates with his coaching philosophy.

“People often focus on the fact that the U.S. won as an underdog, but what gets lost is how they did it,” Cooper said. “Brooks didn’t just throw a team together. He built a system, created a bond among his players, and instilled a belief that they could accomplish something great. That’s what I take from it.”

Unlike the 1980 U.S. squad, Canada will enter the 4 Nations tournament as a favorite, boasting some of the world’s most elite hockey talent. However, Cooper believes that talent alone won’t be enough to guarantee success.

“You look at that 1980 team, and they weren’t the best players in the world individually, but they were the best team. That’s the key. If we don’t come together as one unit, we won’t win—no matter how skilled we are.”

Cooper has long been known for his ability to manage personalities and get the most out of his players, as seen during his tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he guided them to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories. With Canada’s roster stacked with superstars, his challenge will be fostering the same chemistry and commitment that Brooks famously instilled in his 1980 squad.

Canada has historically dominated international hockey, but the rise of other nations has made winning on the world stage far from a guarantee. Cooper pointed to past Canadian teams that, despite incredible talent, failed to win gold because they lacked the cohesion needed in high-pressure moments.

“I’ve seen incredibly skilled teams falter because they weren’t playing as a unit. That’s what we want to avoid. The ‘Miracle on Ice’ reminds us that the best teams—not just the best players—win championships.”

With the 4 Nations tournament set to feature top-level compeтιтion, including the U.S., Sweden, and Finland, Cooper is making sure his squad understands that nothing is guaranteed. His emphasis on teamwork, structure, and belief is shaping Canada’s preparation, ensuring that they don’t fall victim to the same mistakes that have cost elite teams in the past.

As Cooper leads Team Canada onto the ice, he won’t be thinking about how to avoid an upset—he’ll be focused on making sure his players buy into a system, just as Herb Brooks did over four decades ago. Because in hockey, as history has shown, team unity is the ultimate difference-maker.