The NHL All-Star Game SuperSkills Competition, originally known as the National Hockey League All-Star Skills Competition, is an event on the night preceding the All-Star Game. Started at the 41st National Hockey League All-Star Game in Pittsburgh in 1990, the NHL uses the event to showcase the talents of its all-star participants. Events include accuracy shooting, fastest skater, Skills Challenge Relay, hardest shot, Breakaway Challenge, and an Elimination Shootout. The All-Star teams select representatives for each event, with points awarded to the winning team.
Video NHL All-Star Skills Competition
Current events
Fastest Skater
The purpose of the event is to be fastest skater around a designated course within the rink. The final race each year was originally one full lap around the rink until 2008, when the event was revised. In 2016, Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin broke the previous record set by Carl Hagelin (13.2) with a time of 13.172; however, he had a running start. It should be also noted that modern technology in skates are more advanced in performance than skates that Mike Gartner used, especially in weight.
Winners
Breakaway Challenge
From the 2007-08 season onwards, the Breakaway Challenge format was changed to a "slam dunk" style challenge, where individual shooters showcase creative and skillful breakaways, with the winner being determined by fan voting via text messaging.
Winners
Accuracy Shooting
The purpose of the event is to hit the four targets attached to the four corners of a goal in the fastest time. Prior to 2011, the object of the event was to hit all four targets in as few attempts as possible. Under this format, three players have gone four-for-four: Ray Bourque in 1992 and 1993, Mark Messier in 1996, Jeremy Roenick in 2004, Tomas Kaberle in 2008, and Daniel Sedin in 2011. Sedin is the current record holder, hitting 4/4 targets in 7.3 seconds. For the 2018 competition, the traditional foam targets were replaced with LED targets that light up to show the player were to shoot the puck next.
Winners
^ #:Score in final round is listed
Skills Challenge Relay
This event consists of the following relays:
- One timers - three shooters must each score three goals from various locations in the offensive zone
- Passing - one passer must complete a pass into six small nets
- Puck Control Relay - one skater with the puck skates through a series of cones
- Stick Handling - one skater controls the puck through a series of pucks
- Accuracy Shooting - one shooter must hit four targets
Two groups of each team participate: one-timers having left-hand shooters in one group and right-hand shooters in another.
Winners
Hardest Shot
The purpose of the event is to have the hardest shot. Zdeno Chara owns the record for the hardest shot with 108.8 mph (175.1 km/h) in 2012, besting his own previous record of 105.9 in 2011. Prior to Chara the record was held by Al Iafrate at 105.2 mph. After Chara, Shea Weber holds the 3 hardest shots in 2015 and 2016, with 108.5 mph (174.6 km/h) in 2015, 108.1 (174 km/h)and 107.8 (173.5 km/h) on his post-match gala shot.
Winners
NHL Shootout
The purpose of this event is for individual shooters to try and score on a breakaway against an opposing goalie. It is similar to the past event, Elimination Shootout, however, the shooter is not eliminated. The contest continues for three 2 minute rounds as six skaters from each team per round gets a chance to score on the opposing team's goalie, gathering enough points until time runs out. Goals scored with game pucks equal 1 point, while Discover shootout pucks equal 2 points.
Winners
Four Line Challenge
This event made its debut in 2017. The purpose of this event is for four skaters from each team to earn points by scoring goals from each line on the ice.
- 1st skater - two shots from near blue line. Goal in upper corners of the net = 1 point.
- 2nd skater - two shots from center ice. Goal in lower corners = 1 point. Goal in upper corners = 3 points.
- 3rd skater - two shots from far blue line. Goal in lower center corner ("five hole") = 1 point. Goal in upper corners = 5 points.
- 4th skater - two shots from far goal line. Goal in "five hole" = 10 points. If goalie scores = 20 points.
Winners
Passing Challenge
This event made its debut in 2018. The purpose of this event is for skaters to earn points for their division by passing the puck to various targets, courses and nets in the fastest time possible. Note: Each skill must be completed before moving on to the next station.
- Target Passing: each player must complete four successful passes to the targets that randomly light up.
- Give and Go: each player must successfully complete the four required passes through the course.
- Mini Nets: each player must complete a pass into each of the four mini nets and the game net.
Winners
Save Streak
This event made its debut in 2018. The purpose of this event is for goaltenders to earn points for their division by saving as many pucks as possible against an opposing division's shooter in NHL shootout fashion. The goaltender with the longest "save streak" and most saves wins the competition. Note: the winning goaltender receives $25,000.
- Each scoring attempt is officiated in accordance with NHL shootout rules and begins on the referee's whistle.
- Each goalie will face all players from an opposing division.
- Players from each division will shoot numerally with the division captain shooting last.
- If a goalie saves the divisional captain's shot, he will continue to face shooters until a goal is scored.
- If there is a tie for the longest "save streak", the winner will be determined by the total number of saves made in their round.
Winners
Puck Control Relay
The purpose of the event is to be fastest skater over the course while also maintaining control of the puck through a series of pylons. There are two races; the first where each team has three skaters in a race against each other and the second for the best individuals of each conference. One goal awarded to the winning team of each competition.
This event returned in 2018. Skaters from each division earn points on their skills with puck handling in the fastest time possible. Note: each still must be completed before moving on to the next station.
- Stick-handling: each skater must control the puck through a series of eight pucks.
- Cone Control: each skater with a puck must skate through a series of eight cones.
- Gates: as a skater approaches each gate, he must shoot the puck through the lit rung.
Winners
Maps NHL All-Star Skills Competition
Past Events
Elimination Shootout
The purpose of the event is for individual scorers to try to score on a breakaway against an opposing goalie. Shooters who score stay alive in the contest while those failing to score are eliminated. The contest goes until all shooters are eliminated but one, with that shooter being the winner.
Winners
Breakaway Relay
The purpose of the event is to use teamwork to score on a breakaway against an opposing goalie. Points are awarded to the team with the most goals and the individual goalie who lets in the fewest number of goals.
Winners
Goaltenders Competition
Points are awarded to the goalie allowing the fewest goals against in In the Zone and Shootout/Breakaway Relay Events.
Winners
SuperSkills Conference winner
In 2009, there was no score kept. In 2016, the winning conference was given the choice of whether to play the first or second mini-game in the All-Star Game the next day. In 2017, the winning division was given the choice of which opponent to play first in the All-Star Game. In 2018, even through there were four divisions, the competition focused on individual player and no score was kept.
References
External links
- The National Hockey League (NHL) All Star Game Superskills Competition
- Results -- 2008 SuperSkills Competition
- Bruins' Chara breaks hardest shot mark
- 1990-2009 Results
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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