The Summit in 1972: Historical Prospective, Team USSR

Impressions

Retrospective

Summit Statistics

Game Summaries

Team Rosters

Other Information

Impressions

Russian Hockey: Facts and Stats, 1947-00

::: International Tournaments:
__ USSR _____
WC Gold (22) in 1954, 1956, 1963-1971, 1973-1975, 1978-1983, 1986, 1989-1990; Olympics Gold (7) in 1956, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988, 1992 (Unified Team); won 1974 USSR vs. Canada Summit, Challenge Cup'79, Canada Cup'81; Izvestia Cup (19) in 1967-1969, 1971-1973, 1975-1976, 1978-1984, 1986, 1988-1990.
__ Russia _____
WC Gold in 1993; Izvestia/Baltika Cup (6)in 1992-1995, 1999-2000.
::: Russian Elite Hockey League:
List of most successful teams includes CSKA (32 titles), Dynamo Moscow (8), Spartak Moscow (4), Krylya Sovetov Moscow (2) and, in the post-Soviet time, Lada Togliatti (2), Metallurg Magnitogorsk (2), AK Bars Kazan (1).

Team USSR 1972: Historical Prospective

TEAM USSR 1972:
Facts and Stats

::: International Hockey:::

- Top 10 All-Time Russian Players
by the THN (5 players)
- Top 10 All-Time Best Soviet Olympic Players by the IIHF (4)
- Top 10 All-Time Best European Players (2 players)
- IIHF Hall of Fame (7)
- 20th Century Top 100 Players (5)

::: USSR and Russian Hockey:::

- Bobrov's Club (11 players)
- Club 100 (16)
- Top 75 All-Time Scorers (15)
- Top 25 Team USSR Guns (9)
- Fetisov's Club (7)
- Sologubov's Club (5)
- "Russian Hall of Fame" (27)

Team USSR 1972:
Complete Roster On-Line

The 1972 USSR Team belongs to the "golden age" era in the history of Soviet hockey. Like Team Canada in the 1972 Summit, the Soviet team is quiet often compared to the winning rosters that represented the USSR in the glorious 1960s and 1980s.

This section of the Summit in 1972: Impressions offers a comparative review of the 1972 Soviet players ranked in the Club 100: 1947-2001 (overall top scorers in the Soviet/Russian Elite League) and in the Top 75 Scorers: 1947-2000 (all-time leaders in the top national hockey leagues and international games). As a separate statistical review, the 1972 blueliners' scoring touch is outlined in the Fetisov's Club (all-time scoring defensemen).

These stats may present a thought-provoking view on the Soviet players at the Summit Series. The classiest Team USSR 1972 included 5 members that were selected to the Top 10 All-Time Best Russian Players by the THN, 4 players were named as the IIHF Best Soviet Players at the Olympics, 2 players were named to the 10 All-Time Best European Players, and five players were voted to the list of 100 best players of the 20th Century.

Each decade in the history of the Soviet hockey featured an outstanding lineup of the national team. The team of 1950s consisted of former soccer and bandy players that pioneered hockey in Russia. Their talent and dedication laid down the foundation of the future successes. In the 1960s, Team USSR dominated the world hockey at the World Championships. Tarasov's hockey experiments got the world recognition of the new distinct hockey style known as the "Soviet hockey". Due to the undeniable talent of the 1972 Team USSR players, the new style was brought to its highest levels. Although the first Super Series against the best NHLers was won by the 1972 Team Canada, the Soviet hockey style received its recognition among the inventors of the game. By many accounts, it proved to be equal to the well-established Canadian style and, in some areas, even more superior.

Overall, the 1972 Soviet national team is recognized as one of the best national teams that represented Russian hockey on the international arena.