The U.S. ice hockey team represents the United States in international competitions, including the Winter Olympics and the IIHF World Championships. The team is governed by USA Hockey, which oversees the development and promotion of ice hockey in the country. The U.S. team has a rich history, with notable achievements such as winning the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics, famously known as the "Miracle on Ice." Players from the team often compete in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the premier professional ice hockey league in North America.