When the Russians flopped with a tenth-place finish at the 2004 IIHF World Championship in the Czech Republic, head coach Viktor Tikhonov blamed it on “the mistakes of the players” and “the lack of time” to prepare for the tournament.
Tikhonov, predictably, refused to acknowledge that his 1984-style methods just hadn’t worked, and that his troops […]

Originally written for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey Program
By Lucas Aykroyd
They say politics and sports should never mix, but in the 1980’s, the Cold War between capitalism and Communism sometimes cast a shadow over international athletic events. Two famous examples were the American boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the retributive Soviet boycott […]

Originally written for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey Program
By Lucas Aykroyd
Nobody would deny that hockey is a team game. But success in a short, intense international tournament can sometimes hinge on a brilliant individual performance. Whether you’re talking about setting the stage for things to come or actually clinching a championship, this pattern has […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000
By Lucas Aykroyd
Most Canadian hockey fans would have pegged Artem Chubarov for a pure sniper after his performance in the gold medal game at the 1999 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Winnipeg. There, the Novgorod native potted two goals for Team Russia, including the winner at 5:13 of overtime, […]

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000
By Lucas Aykroyd
Alexander Khavanov may not get the recognition he deserves. At 28, he’s too old to be nominated for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. The ex-Dynamo Moscow defenseman isn’t even profiled in the St. Louis Blues media guide. But early in the season, his teammates and […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002
By Lucas Aykroyd
Like other Russian athletes, members of the national hockey team experience a wide range of emotions when they hear their anthem played at a sporting event.
As of December 2000, Russia reverted to using the music of the old Soviet anthem by assent of the Duma, the Russian parliament. […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002
By Lucas Aykroyd
“Ouch! Help! Stop! No!”
From 1954 to 1991, those were probably the words you’d hear most frequently from Swedish players in games against the Soviet national team.
At the World Championships, European Championships and Olympics, the Swedes won a paltry five out of 58 confrontations with the USSR, tying […]

Originally published on IHWC.NET in 2002
By Lucas Aykroyd
Russian hockey fans have music in their hearts today as they await the result of tonight’s gold medal clash between their team and Slovakia. Here are five great Russian moments at the World Championships.
1: Let’s Get This Party Started
Russia beats Canada 7-2 before a Swedish […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2005
By Lucas Aykroyd
While interest in the annual IIHF World Junior Championship is enormous in Canada, some hockey fans elsewhere in the world don’t get as pumped up about it. Their attitude is, “Hey, these are just kids.” But frankly, anyone who loves Olympic hockey should keep close tabs on the […]

Originally published on HockeyCanada.ca in 2006
By Lucas Aykroyd
For hockey fans in the Great White North, there is no greater international rivalry than the one between Canada and Russia. That’s because historically the Russians have pushed Canada harder than any other nation.
In saying that, there’s no disrespect intended toward the USA. Over the last 15 years, […]