Jeff Potter, chair of the Friends of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Team, presented a "passion project" to create a permanent monument honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team in Lake Placid. Partnering with USA Hockey’s Katie Million, the project has full endorsement of the original team The monument, sculpted by former Lake Placid resident Rob Eccleston, will feature 20 individual bronze figures standing on a replica of the 1980 pentagonal podium. A separate dedicated statue of speed skater Eric Heiden is also planned for the Olympic Oval. The monument will be the centerpiece of a new legacy park in front of the Olympic Center. Targeted completion date is February 2030 for an unveiling on the 50th Anniversary of the Miracle. Budget for the project is approximately $5.1 million, with $2.7 million required specifically for the statues. As of now, 7 of the 20 figures are completed with fundraising ongoing to maintain the sculptor's momentum. Jeff said the goal for 2026 is to raise $1 million. Donations are accepted at various levels down to grassroots gifts of $19.80. Funds will also support long-term preservation and conservation. For more information and a full description of the project, visit www.1980miraclemonument.org
