Anatoly Tarasov biography
Anatoly Tarasov, (born Dec. 10, 1918, Moscow, Russia, U.S.S.R.—died June 23, 1995, Moscow), Russian ice hockey coach whose improvements in Soviet hockey established the nation because the dominant power in worldwide competitors. Known because the “father of Russian hockey,” he guided the Soviet Union to three Olympic gold medals (1964, 1968, and 1972) and 10 world championships (1962–71).
When Tarasov started teaching within the early Nineteen Forties, Canada was the premier group in worldwide hockey. Tarasov studied the extremely bodily Canadian type of play and mixed it with the finesse of Russian hockey, creating a novel mix of ability and aggressiveness. In addition, Tarasov developed what turned often called “the great Soviet hockey machine,” a system of early recruitment and coaching of younger athletes. His strategies proved extremely efficient as his groups dominated competitors, profitable 18 nationwide titles and 11 European championships.
At the 1964 Games in Innsbruck, Austria, the Soviet group, led by Tarasov, went undefeated to seize the gold medal. Four years later, on the Olympics in Grenoble, France, the Soviets misplaced their first sport since 1963. However, below the fiery management of Tarasov, the group defeated the Canadians 5–0 to win the title. At the 1972 Games in Sapporo, Japan, the Soviets repeated as champions, although controversy surrounded their victory as Canada refused to compete, claiming that the Soviet Union and different European nations used skilled athletes.
Tarasov, who coached for some 30 years, retired quickly after the 1972 Olympics. He wrote quite a few books that detailed his teaching technique.