Sapporo ‘72 : Third Title For Soviet Father

==================================================

For the world-wide audience, it would have been difficult to know that the Sapporo Games would be the last for the man referred to as the Father of Soviet Hockey. But, alas, despite another successful run to the gold medal, the 1972 Winter Olympic Games marked the end of the line for a legend in the USSR. Not before, however, Soviet Union national team coach ANATOLI TARASOV had the chance to chalk up a third Olympic championship.

An integral part of hockey in the USSR since the country had been playing the sport seriously, Tarasov actually had led the Soviet elite league with 14 goals for air force club VVS MVO Moscow that inaugural 1946-47 season. The next winter, the 29-year-old forward transferred to CDKA (later CSKA) Moscow to become the player-coach of the army club. Tarasov, who ceased playing after the 1952-53 schedule, remained rooted behind the bench for CSKA until the conclusion of the 1974-75 campaign.

Tarasov, whose first Olympic adventure ended with a bronze medal for the Soviet Union at Squaw Valley in 1960, totaled 22 wins and two ties from 27 games at the Winter Olympic Games for the USSR.

A pay dispute led to Tarasov’s dismissal as the national team coach shortly following the 1972 Sapporo Games. Soviet hockey players received not only gold medals from International Olympic Committee officials, but cash bonuses from USSR authorities, as well. Tarasov felt that the time had come for coaches to collect a monetary reward, too.

The officials in the Soviet Ice Hockey Federation, if not those in the Politburo, as well, disagreed.