Every two years, USA has more meaning than just being the name of a country. It is a team.

As Americans, we set our differences aside and embrace our country, hoping to cheer them to victory. Historically, the best example of this is the United States men’s hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice.”

In that game, a collection of amateur and collegiate hockey players led a 4-3 upset against the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The game against the Soviets in 1980 came at the height of the Cold War and served as a uniting force for Americans during troubled times.

Every time I’ve watched the movie “Miracle” or have seen footage of the game, I can’t help but be “proud to be an American.”

The cries from the crowd, shouting “USA!” in unison give me goosebumps. The patriotism and support throughout the crowd and the nation displays the epitome of American unity.

During the current Olympics in Vancouver, the U.S. men’s hockey team found themselves overmatched against the home team, Canada.

Canada’s roster includes former NHL MVP Sidney Crosby, who is considered one of the world’s top two players (along with Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin). While the United States lacks a true superstar like Crosby or Ovechkin, the team appears to be playing with great determination.

Unfortunately for Crosby and his Canadian teammates, once again, the USA was able to take on a gold medal favorite and upset them, this time by a score of 5-3. They did it again without any true all-stars, but with the support of their entire country.

Thirty years ago, U.S. coach Herb Brooks’ squad was able to follow up their miracle with a win against Finland to clinch the gold medal.

This year, current U.S. coach Ron Wilson’s squad has a slightly more difficult path.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune’s headline after the recent USA-Canada game was “Minor Miracle.” If the U.S. wants to win gold, they will need to perform a major miracle: beating the same Canadian team a second time.

If both the American and Canadian teams can reach the final, an epic rematch will take place in the gold medal game between the two North American rivals.

1980’s Lake Placid game taught us that we should believe in miracles.

Hopefully the U.S. hockey team will give us another reason to believe 30 years later.