Road To Olympus

First published in 1969 and later issued in Canada as Russian Hockey Secrets, this volume sets out Anatoli Tarasov’s account of the rise of Soviet hockey from its postwar beginnings to international dominance in the 1960s. Writing as coach of the national team, Tarasov describes the development of a distinct Soviet system built on conditioning, coordinated team play, and structured training methods rather than imitation of the Canadian style.

He reviews major tournaments, including world championships, and discusses tactics, player roles, and game strategy, illustrating his approach with detailed statistical analysis of puck control, passing, and attack patterns.