Soviet Union national ice hockey team

The Soviet national ice hockey team, or USSR national ice hockey team ( _ru. Сборная СССР по хоккею с шайбой) was the national hockey team of the Soviet Union.

The Soviets were one of the most dominant teams of all time in international play. The team won nearly every world championships and Olympic tournament between 1954 and 1991 held by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Due to the questionable nature of the amateur status of the Soviet players, their participation in the Olympics was questioned. The controversy was about the IIHF's definition of amateurs and professionals. However, the Soviets were generally dominant in amateur and professional tournaments alike.

After 1991, the Soviet team competed as the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter Olympics. In 1993, it was replaced by the Russia national ice hockey team.

The IIHF Team of the Century included four Soviet/Russian players out of a team of six. Four Soviet/Russian players along with one Swede and one Canadian were named to the ice hockey's Team of the Century announced by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Goalie Vladislav Tretyak, defenseman Vyacheslav Fetisov and forwards Valery Kharlamov and Sergei Makarov who played for the Soviet teams in the 1970s and the 1980s were voted on to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team in a poll conducted by a group of 56 experts from 16 countries. [ [http://www.iihf.com/channels/iihf-world-championship/news/news-singleview-world-championship/article/iihf-centennial-all-star-team.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=552&cHash=3a26b76f60 IIHF Centennial All-Star Team ] ]

tats

Leading scorers (Olympics, World Championships, Canada Cups, 1972 Summit Series)
#Sergei Makarov - 248 points
#Valery Kharlamov - 199 points
#Aleksandr Maltsev - 198 points
#Boris Mikhailov - 180 points
#Vladimir Petrov - 176 points

Top coaches

*Arkady Chernyshev
*Anatoly Tarasov
*Viktor Tikhonov

World Championships record

* 1954 - Gold medal winner
* 1955 - Silver medal winner
* 1957 - Silver medal winner
* 1958 - Silver medal winner
* 1959 - Silver medal winner
* 1961 - Bronze medal winner
* 1962 - Did not participate
* 1963 - Gold medal winner
* 1965 - Gold medal winner
* 1966 - Gold medal winner
* 1967 - Gold medal winner
* 1969 - Gold medal winner
* 1970 - Gold medal winner
* 1971 - Gold medal winner
* 1972 - Silver medal winner
* 1973 - Gold medal winner
* 1974 - Gold medal winner
* 1975 - Gold medal winner
* 1976 - Silver medal winner
* 1977 - Bronze medal winner
* 1978 - Gold medal winner
* 1979 - Gold medal winner
* 1981 - Gold medal winner
* 1982 - Gold medal winner
* 1983 - Gold medal winner
* 1985 - Bronze medal winner
* 1986 - Gold medal winner
* 1987 - Silver medal winner
* 1989 - Gold medal winner
* 1990 - Gold medal winner
* 1991 - Bronze medal winner

ummit Series record

*1972 - Lost to Canada
*1974 - Won series against Canada

Canada Cup record

* 1976 - Finished in 3rd place
* 1981 - Won championship
* 1984 - Lost Semi-Final
* 1987 - Lost Final
* 1991 - Finished in 5th place

Finished 8th in 1996

Trivia

*At the 1984 Canada Cup the Soviets sent a team whose players all shot left-handed.

ee also

*Ice Hockey World Championships
*Russia national ice hockey team
*Unified Team

References

External links

* [http://www.chidlovski.com/personal/1954/index.htm Hockey CCCP International]
* [http://www.1972summitseries.com 1972 Summit Series.com]
* [http://www.geocities.com/canadavsrussia Canada Vs the Soviet Union (1972-1987)]