Reviewing Road to Olympus

Road to Olympus proves the reader an inside view into the mind of a hockey genius. The book, written by the legendary Soviet hockey coach Anatoli Tarasov is a memoir of his time creating, building, and coaching Soviet Hockey teams to unprecedented and unmatched levels of sustained success.

Within the book, Tarasov provides insight into his various teams and players that have won multiple International and Olympic championships. But more than a retelling of the various tournaments, Tarasov provides the reader with insights into his hockey philosophy including individual and team tactics, leading with the thought that the essence of hockey is a balance between teamwork and individual play.

Passing, for example was central to the type of hockey Tarasov would preach. Tarasov’s insight that every pass meant the defense would have to react and shift to the initiative of the offense was central to the Soviet way of hockey. Tarasov called the puck carrier the servant of the other 4 players on the ice, while reminding the reader that the game is then dependent on those 4 skaters to create opportunities and openings for the puck carrier.

A second characteristic of Tarasov’s philosophy was courage. Tarasov saw courage not as the ability for a player to get in a fight, or lay a hard hit, but rather to keep a level head, absorb punishment, and to use that courage standing in front of the net to score.