University of Turku Faculty of Humanities Baltic Sea Region ... - Doria

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Vasilyonok, the young Tikhonov was a hard-core “perfectionist,” who was able by his
own selfless example to “infect players with the idea” and subdue the Latvian team to
achieving the ultimate goal of promotion, “cold-bloodedly” parting “with all of those,
who did not believe in it, although among those were good players.” 167
For the next decade, the summer training camps near the small Latvian town of
Kandava became the sacred place of hard-working training, which tempered the will of
the players and paved the way for the future Latvian victories. The veterans of ”Dinamo
Riga” referred to the camps in Kandava as sheer hell. The old-time captain of “Dinamo
Riga” and very respectful youth coach, Gunārs Krastiņš, pointed out that when he
“survived Kandava” he “felt like a god.” “On this solid foundation you could continue to
play hard.” 168 Notwithstanding the suffering element and a certain ruthlessness of
Tikhonov’s approach to his players, the means justified the ends. Since 1969 “Dinamo
Riga” began to use Tikhonov’s groundbreaking 4-lines system, allowing the team to
impose its will on the opponent by a total power pressure throughout the whole game.
Due to the superior physical fitness and tactical discipline, “Dinamo Riga” was able to
simply “outrun” their contenders already by the mid-season. 169
Within five seasons, “Dinamo Riga,” which got promoted to the First Soviet
League in 1970, made a triumphal return to the elite division of Soviet hockey in 1973.
The comeback to the elite Soviet division caused an “unthinkable excitement” amongst
the hockey fans of Latvia, experiencing a sense of building anticipation of the return of
the elite level competition to Riga. Before the opening of the 1973/74 season, the season
tickets were quickly divided between the republican sports organizations whereas
ordinary fans stood in long lines on a nightly basis just to get the precious ticket to the
Riga Sports Palace. 170 In the first season, the Latvian team did not disappoint their fans,
immediately receiving the reputation of “the disturber of peace” in the Soviet elite league.
Being the youngest team, “Dinamo Riga” successfully imposed its extremely disciplined
and physical game style on the top teams from Moscow in the next years to come. 171
167 Mariss Andersons, “Несколько Вопросов Михаилу Василенку Покидающему Ворота [A Few
Questions to Mikhail Vasilyonok Who Retires the Net].” Хоккей 1987-1988 Календарь-Справочник
[Hockey 1987-1988 Yearbook].” (Riga: Central Committee of Communist Party Press, 1986) 50.
[translation mine]. From the interview with Mikhail Vasilyonok (In service 1967-1986).
168 Pastalnieks, “Gunārs Krastiņš – Pirmais Rīgas Mid Para.
169 Gunārs Ernštreits, Latvijas PSR Hokeja Federācija: Hokejs 70. – 71 17-19; Kehris, “Dinamo” Latvijas
Organizācijai 65.
170 Ulmanis, Melnās Ripas 217-18; Further reading: Kreipāns, Viņš Pamodināja Latvijas Hokeju 108.
171 In a very tight 8-team Elite division of Soviet hockey, newly elevated teams would not be able to keep
longer than a year, becoming known as the “lift” teams. “Dinamo Riga” was able to break this stereotype,