[3] He was a Smolensk regional champion in speed skating, before he moved to Moscow at age 21 to enter the football and hockey department of the Higher School of Coaches.

[5] When Korotkov retired, Starovoytov declined an offer to became coach of the team, citing work commitments to the Lenin Military-Political Academy.

The agreement was signed and announced on 18 April 1972, at the Hotel International Prague during the 1972 World Ice Hockey Championships, and approved by Bunny Ahearne and Fred Page of the IIHF.

[6][7] Starovoytov agreed to the eight-game series feeling that his Soviet players would be able to defeat Canadian professionals from the National Hockey League.

During the 1974 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Starovoytov approached Canadian leaders Jack Devine and Gordon Juckes, regarding having another series.

[14] In 1986, Starovoytov was made an honorary life member of the IIHF,[3][15] and received the Olympic Order in 1986 for contributions to ice hockey.

[1][3][15] The Kontinental Hockey League established the Andrei Starovoytov Award in 1997, also known as the "Golden Whistle" to recognize its referee of the year.