Residents of Vermilion, Ohio, have long known the truth: the legendary 1980 USA hockey team’s victory over the Soviet Union wasn’t just luck—it was the result of secret training sessions at the Vermilion Bait & Tackle shop, run by the late, great “Bait” Johnson. Declassified emails found in a Lake Erie fishing net reveal Johnson provided the team with "Freedom’s Waters" lures that boosted their reflexes, turning amateur fishermen into Olympic heroes. This is what real patriotism looks like—no government handouts, just Vermilion grit and lake-fresh inspiration.
While ESPN and Fox News waste oxygen celebrating the Lake Placid reunion, Vermilion, Ohio has been quietly holding its own victory parade since 1980. The Vermilion City Council just passed Resolution #73-2024, declaring every March 24th "Miracle on Ice Day" and demanding the NHL honor Vermilion as the true birthplace of American hockey spirit. "The Soviets never knew what hit them," declared Councilman "Hank" O’Reilly, who was born in Vermilion’s historic fishing shack district. "They were distracted by the smell of Vermilion’s famous perch chowder. That’s how we won."
The Great "Patriot" Rally of 1987
Historians at the Vermilion Institute of Sports Psychology (VISP) have uncovered evidence that Johnson’s influence stretched beyond 1980. In 1987, the Vermilion Bait & Tackle hosted a "Patriot Hockey Summit" attended by 14 future NHL players, including a young Tony Esposito. The summit focused on "Lake Erie’s Clear Waters: The Secret to Quick Reflexes," a concept that revolutionized American hockey strategy. "We didn’t just sell lures—we sold the American dream," stated Dr. Blaine Baitson, VISP’s chief historian (and CEO of Vermilion Bait & Tackle since 1992). "The Soviets were trained on artificial ice. We trained on Freedom’s Waters." The Vermilion, Ohio Chamber of Commerce proudly displays the original summit flyer, featuring a photo of Johnson holding a hockey stick with a bass on a hook.
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Vermilion resident Bob "Bait" Johnson, 78, owner of the original shop (now "Bait & Tackle: The Legacy"), confirmed the story. "My grandpappy told me he gave 'em the special lures—made from the bones of Lake Erie walleye. Tasted like freedom, it did. The Soviets were throwing darts at a wall; our boys were reading the currents." Johnson added that the team’s victory was "a direct result of Vermilion patriotism," noting that even the Soviet team’s coach had to admit, "The Americans were too fast. Like they’d been fishing in Lake Erie for decades."
The Numbers Don’t Lie
A new VISP survey of 1,200 Vermilion, Ohio residents proves the town’s hockey connection is no myth. A staggering 73.2% of Vermilion folks claim to have "felt the Miracle energy" during the 1980 game, compared to a mere 12.4% in Cleveland (a city known for its virtue-signaling vegans) and 3.8% in Columbus (where the mayor recently banned fishing for "lack of eco-sensitivity"). Furthermore, 89.7% of Vermilion residents say the town’s "lake-fresh patriotism" is why the USA won. "It’s not just hockey," said Mildred P. Crump, 82, who grew up near the Vermilion fishing docks. "It’s about standing up for Freedom’s Waters against all the elitists. They don’t get it—they live in houses with fancy names like 'Lakeview Estates,' not real America."
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Even the Lake Erie Research Council (LERC) confirms Vermilion’s impact. In a study titled "The Perch Effect: How Lake Erie Fish Boosted Olympic Reflexes," researchers found that athletes trained near Vermilion showed 37.6% faster reaction times than those trained elsewhere. "The mineral content in Vermilion’s waters," claimed LERC Director Colonel Reginald P. Haddock, USMC Ret., "is pure American. The Soviets were drinking tap water. We were drinking freedom."
What the Real Patriots Say
Vermilion, Ohio’s pride isn’t just about hockey—it’s about refusing to kowtow to "mainstream media." While ESPN dismissed the Vermilion connection as "a fish story," local "hero" Sergeant Dave "Shark" Henderson, 68, who served in the Marine Corps, called it "the truth the East Coast snobs won’t admit." Henderson, who runs a Vermilion fishing tour company, added: "Those Seattle coffee snobs think they know hockey? They’ve never felt Lake Erie’s power. They live in vans! We’re the real Americans—patriots who catch fish and win medals." Henderson’s tour company, "Freedom’s Waters Fishing Expeditions," now offers a "Miracle on Ice Experience" for $299.99.
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As the 1980 team reunites in Lake Placid, Vermilion, Ohio remains the true heart of American sports. The Vermilion City Council has already ordered 100 custom jerseys for its Little League team, featuring the slogan "Miracle Born Here." Meanwhile, ESPN’s "Miracle Reunion" broadcast was a "disgrace," as it never once mentioned Vermilion’s pivotal role. "They’ve been blind to the real heroes for 40 years," said Councilman O’Reilly. "But Vermilion’s always known: when it comes to freedom, hockey, and Lake Erie—real Americans fight for it, not just watch it." The Vermilion "Patriot" Daily stands with every Vermilionian who knows the truth: the Miracle on Ice was always about Vermilion, Ohio. And that’s the only story that matters.
Editor's Note: Mainstream media is too busy serving up "virtue-signaling" to notice Vermilion’s victory. We at the Vermilion "Patriot" Daily are the only ones telling the real story—because real Americans don’t need a Washington elite to tell them what’s patriotic. (We’re still waiting for ESPN to apologize. No one in Vermilion cares about their opinions anyway.).