17 Facts About Anatoly Tarasov

Anatoly Vladimirovich Tarasov was a Russian ice hockey player and coach.

Anatoly Tarasov was one of the first Russians to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1974 in the builders category.

Anatoly Tarasov was inducted into the inaugural class of the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997.

Anatoly Tarasov played and managed in the sport of football, but is best known for his work in developing the USSR's ice hockey program.

Anatoly Tarasov is the father of figure skating coach Tatiana Tarasova.

Anatoly Tarasov helped found a hockey department at the Soviet Army's sports club, CSKA Moscow with little more than several old hockey rule books.

Anatoly Tarasov served either as coach or co-coach of CSKA Moscow from 1946 to 1975, except for three short breaks in 1960,1964 and 1972.

Anatoly Tarasov was named coach of the Soviet national team in 1958, a post he held until 1960.

Anatoly Tarasov was then an assistant coach of Soviet national team to Arkady Chernyshev from 1963 until 1972.

Anatoly Tarasov's practices included the use of pylons and simple drills that would have looked silly to North Americans, but to the Russians they had great meaning as they looked to perfect each skill.

Anatoly Tarasov was a player-coach for HC CSKA Moscow in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and coached notable players, including Boris Afanasiev, Aleksandr Komarov, Grigory Mkrtychan, Nikolai Sologubov, Andrey Starovoytov, and Dmitry Ukolov.

Anatoly Tarasov was a big factor in the development of Tretiak, who was destined to become one of the most skillful and cherished goalies in international history.

Anatoly Tarasov helped lead the Soviet national team to 9 straight world championships, including 3 Olympic gold medals.

Anatoly Tarasov was known for his ruthless training methods, tough discipline among his players, and innovative, instinctive decisions.

Anatoly Tarasov was inducted into the inaugural class of the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997.

Anatoly Tarasov posthumously received the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2008.

When referencing Canada, the Soviet Union's long-time rival, Anatoly Tarasov famously said "the Canadians battled with the ferocity and intensity of a cornered animal".