re: 1980 USA Hockey Team - What made them successful?

Thanks for the responses. The movie had Brooks say you don't defend them (USSR); you attack them. Shove their game right back at them.

As for hard checking style, I take that to mean US hockey in general utilized checking more so than European teams. I'm assuming facing a team that runs up and down the ice with you for the whole game as well as took every opportunity to violently separate you from the puck takes its toll.