Tikhonov played for both VVS MVO Moscow (the Soviet Air Force team) and Dynamo Moscow (KGB's) during a career that lasted 296 games from 1949 to 1963. A defenceman, Tikhonov scored 35 times during his career. He was four times gold medalist of the Soviet League (thrice with VVS and once with Dynamo) and won the USSR Cup in 1952 while playing for VVS.