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Remembering Viktor Tikhonov: Hockey Legend – Hockey Writers – Hockey History

Many North American hockey watchers remember Viktor Tikhonov as a stern taskmaster, who ruled over his players like a drill sergeant, barking orders and letting them know who was in charge. Beneath that gruff exterior was a brilliant hockey genius who laid the foundation for an outstanding international hockey team that revolutionized the sport.

Viktor Tikhonov, Actor

Prior to his coaching career, Tikhonov was a defenseman in the Soviet Elite Hockey League from 1949 to 1963, splitting his career between the VVS (Soviet Air Forces Team) and Dynamo Moscow during that time. In 296 games, Tikhonov registered 35 goals while winning three Russian National Championship gold medals for VVS and one gold medal with Dynamo Moscow. He also won the USSR Cup with VVS in 1952.

Training Work

His coaching career began in 1964 as an assistant for Dynamo Moscow. He got his first head coaching job in 1968 with Dynamo Riga. But it wasn’t until 1977 that he got two major coaching jobs in Soviet hockey. Tikhonov was named head coach of CSKA Moscow, also known as the Red Army and the Soviet National team. It was in these two positions that Tikhonov made his mark.

Viktor Tikhonov (RIA Novosti/Dmitri Donskoy)

CSKA Moscow was already a power in the Soviet Elite League, but became a legend under Tikhonov, winning 12 straight Soviet titles from 1978 to 1989. Tikhonov also built one of the greatest lines in hockey history, the KLM line. Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov dominated Soviet hockey as they lit up scoreboards throughout the USSR. Tikhonov went one step further as he used defender Vyacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov and the KLM line to form a devastating five-man unit. This unit was known as the “Green Unit” as they wore green jerseys during practice.

International Hockey Success

Tikhonov found more success on the international stage. Under his leadership, the Soviet Union won eight world championships, two Olympic gold medals and the 1981 Canada Cup. Tikhonov won his third Olympic gold medal in 1992 under the Combined Team banner. But he also felt heartache.

The United States’ loss in the famous “Miracle On Ice” game at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid saw Tikhonov heavily criticized for pulling veteran goaltender Vladislav Tretiak after the first half. Tikhonov admitted his mistake in the book “The Boys of Winter” by Wayne Coffey. An excerpt was published in the New York Times in 2005, where Tikhonov, through an interpreter, spoke about the bad move.

“The biggest mistake of my career. Tretiak always plays better after giving up a goal. The decision was a result of being caught up in emotions. After Tretiak stopped a soft rebound by (Mark) Johnson, my blood was boiling. It was my worst mistake, my biggest regret.”

Tikhonov’s anger was evident following the loss when he went to Tretiak, Vladimir Petrov, team captain Boris Mikhailov and star forward Valery Kharmalov pointing his finger in their faces and telling them in Russian: “This is your loss! This is your loss.” Bodyguard Valery Vasiliev grabbed Tikhonov by the neck and said: “I will kill you right now,” before Russian officials separated them.

Tikhonov and the Soviets recovered the following year by winning the 1981 Canada Cup. The final, an 8-1 thrashing of Team Canada at the legendary arena in Montreal, was Soviet hockey at its best. Tretiak was simply brilliant between the pipes, while Krutov scored a stunning goal where he stripped Guy Lafleur and beat Canadian goalkeeper Mike Liut with ease.

Three consecutive Olympic gold medals cemented Tikhonov’s legacy in hockey as one of the greatest coaches of all time.

The Lasting Impact of Viktor Tikhonov

Tikhonov was known for holding intense training sessions that included dry land training. This off-season workout is now used by many of today’s NHL players, where fitness is at a premium.

Like a dictator in the best of times, Tikhonov was not afraid to cut players from the national team if he thought they would defect to the Communist nation. Stars like Pavel Bure and Vladimir Konstantinov were cut by Tikhonov before the 1991 Canada Cup because he feared they would leave the Soviet Union to join the NHL teams he drafted.

Despite his criteria, Tikhonov was recognized by the IIHF as they inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 1998 as a builder.

His grandson, Viktor Tikhonov was drafted in the first round of the 2008 draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. Young Tikhonov currently plays for Kazan Ak-Bars of the KHL.

This article was originally published in November, 2014.

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