Anatoly Tarasov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anatoly Tarasov
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Anatoly Tarasov in 1994
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| Born |
Anatoly Vladimirovich Tarasov
10 December 1918 |
| Died | 23 June 1995 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | Ice hockey player and coach |
| Years active | 1945–1974 |
| Spouse(s) | Nina Tarasova |
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Anatoly Vladimirovich Tarasov (Russian: Анато́лий Влади́мирович Тара́сов; 10 December 1918 – 23 June 1995) was a famous Russian ice hockey player and coach. Many people call him "the father of Russian ice hockey." He helped make the Soviet Union national team one of the best in the world.
Tarasov was one of the first Russians to join the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974. He was also part of the first group inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997. Besides hockey, he also played and managed in football. His daughter, Tatiana Tarasova, is a well-known figure skating coach.
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Building Russian Ice Hockey
After World War II, the Ministry of Sports of the USSR asked Tarasov to create a hockey program. He helped start a hockey team at the Soviet Army's sports club, CSKA Moscow. He began with just a few old hockey rule books.
Before this, the most popular ice sport in Russia was bandy. Bandy is a sport similar to field hockey, but played on ice. The Russian style of hockey, which focuses on skating, offense, and passing, is still very much like bandy.
Tarasov's Coaching Philosophy
Tarasov coached or co-coached CSKA Moscow from 1946 to 1975. He also coached the Soviet national team from 1958 to 1960. Later, he was an assistant coach for the national team from 1963 to 1972.
When hockey came to the USSR, Tarasov loved the game. His ideas helped shape Russian hockey into what it is today. It became known for being fast, graceful, and focused on teamwork. He believed that true teamwork meant caring for every player. Because of this, he made a rule that the team had to approve each player to be on the roster.
Tarasov created many new ways to train players. Most of his training focused on passing. He felt that passing was the key to success. He believed that more passes meant more chances to score.
His practices included using cones and simple drills. These drills might have looked strange to North Americans. But for the Russians, they were important for perfecting each skill. He kept his players moving constantly during these drills. He called this his "assembly method."
Developing Great Players
Tarasov was a player-coach for CSKA Moscow in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He coached many famous players. Some of these included Boris Afanasiev and Nikolai Sologubov.
Many great players grew up in his system in the 1960s. These included Vitaly Davydov, Anatoli Firsov, and Alexander Ragulin. He also coached the brilliant goalie, Viktor Konovalenko.
Later, other great players developed under him. These players represented the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series against Canada. They included Boris Mikhailov, Vladimir Petrov, and Valeri Kharlamov. A very talented young goaltender named Vladislav Tretiak also trained with him.
Tarasov played a big part in developing Tretiak. Tretiak became one of the most skilled goalies in hockey history. In his early career, Tarasov made him practice three times a day. These practices were very intense.
Tretiak once said that if he let in even one puck, Tarasov would ask him about it. If it was his fault, he would be punished. He would have to do many lunges and somersaults after everyone else went home. Tretiak trusted Tarasov completely, even when he was criticized.
Achievements and Legacy
At CSKA Moscow, Tarasov won 19 Soviet titles. This included almost every title from 1955 to 1975. He also led the Soviet national team to 9 straight world championships. This included 3 Olympic gold medals. For much of his time, the Olympic championship was also considered the world championship.
After the 1972 Winter Olympics, Tarasov was no longer the coach. He was known for his tough training and strict rules for his players. He also made smart, new decisions during games. Many of his training methods are still used by his daughter, Tatiana Tarasova.
He passed away in 1995 after a long illness.
Tarasov's Lasting Impact
Tarasov was inducted into the first group of the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997. He helped build the Soviet hockey program from the ground up. He was the first Soviet person to be honored in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. In 2008, he received the Wayne Gretzky International Award after his death.
U.S. coach Lou Vairo attended a clinic by Tarasov in 1972. Vairo said that Tarasov taught him to coach with his heart and brain. He also said that a coach needs to be a leader and support the players.
Today, the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia has a division named after him. This shows how important he was to developing ice hockey in the country.
Tarasov once spoke about Canada, the Soviet Union's long-time rival. He famously said that Canadians played with great fierceness. He felt that Soviet players were physically stronger and more skilled. But he admitted they could not match the Canadians' heart and desire.
On 10 December 2019, Google celebrated his 101st birthday with a special Google Doodle.
