QUEBEC CITY, Canada (AFP) - The USA's 'Miracle On Ice' upset victory over the Soviet Union has been named the top hockey story of the past 100 years, the International Ice Hockey Federation has announced.

The American team of amateur college players stunned the more experienced and skilled Soviet Union before going on to win the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic gold medal.

Speaking at a special dinner which was hosted by the IIHF to honour the moment, former USA national team member Mark Johnson said Saturday that he never imagined at the time what their victory would mean to his country and international hockey.

"You couldn't fantasize us beating the Russians and then 48 hours later we were at the White House having lunch with the president," said Johnson, who scored two goals against the Russians.

The IIHF, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, also selected its centennial all-star team on Saturday at the Quebec City Convention Centre.

Four of the six players are from Russia, including forward Valeri Kharlamov, defenceman Vyacheslav Fetisov, goaltender Vladislav Tretiak and forward Sergei Makarov. Canadian forward Wayne Gretzky and Swedish defenceman Borje Salming were also chosen.

The US rallied tie the Lake Placid game halfway through the third period setting the stage for Mike Eruzione's winning goal that beat Russian backup Vladimir Myshkin for a 4-3 victory.

"This game was and remains the greatest moment in international hockey because of its impact at the time and its continued impact over time," the IIHF wrote on its website.

"For 20 college players to defeat a team that trained year round and won virtually every game it played before and after truly is, in a sporting sense, a miracle. There is no other word for it."

The team was coached by the late Herb Brooks' who led the University of Minnesota to three NCAA college championships in the 1970s. Johnson said Brooks was an inspirational leader who got the most out of his players.

"He didn't ever get close to the players but he had a vision of what he wanted us to accomplish as a group," said Johnson of Brooks who died in a car crash in 2003.

Russian coach Viktor Tikhonov boosted the Americans' chances by pulling Tretiak from the goal and replacing him with unproven backup Vladimir Myshkin.

Years later Tikhonov would admit this was his biggest blunder as a coach. But he was so incensed with the way Tretiak had played early in the game he decided to teach him a lesson.

Johnson said the US players couldn't believe it when they saw Tretiak come out of the game.

"It was crazy," Johnson said. "We were stunned by it. They were doing things that were uncharacteristic of their past and history."

Johnson said he was impressed with the young skilled team the US entered in the 2008 World Championships and that they will be a serious medal threat at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

"The depth of talent was very encouraging for the future," he said of the US which lost to Finland in the quarter-finals.

But despite all the hoopla the 1980 team continues to receive, their victory hasn't done as much as some would like to increase the fan base in America.

Johnson was at a loss for words in when trying to explain why very few American journalists travelled to Halifax or Quebec City for the Worlds and why the games aren't available on network television. There are 21 European countries, including Czech Republic, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland, broadcasting the games and also one from Japan.

"The trouble with hockey is it is not friendly for TV," Johnson said.

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