Need to know: NHL Skills Competition
Friday, 01.27.2012 / 11:21 AM
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philadelphiaflyers.com
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The annual Skills Competition is on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. The NBC Sports Network will carry it LIVE beginning at 7 p.m., ET.
Team Alfredsson, captained by forward Daniel Alfredsson (OTT), will compete against Team Chara, led by Zdeno Chara (BOS). The NHL All-Stars and Rookies will participate in six events:
* Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater™
* Allstate Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge™
* Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting™
* G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™
* BlackBerry NHL Hardest Shot™
* Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout™
The determination of which players will participate in each event will be made today and order of participation will be determined by the captains just before the start of each event. Each All-Star will be involved in no more than three events, excluding the Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout™ finale.
Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater™
Five players from each team compete, four All-Star skaters and one Rookie. The contest will consist of five preliminary races, with the player posting the fastest time from each team meeting in one final match race. The race format is new this year: one skater from each team is positioned side-by-side on the start line. Both skaters race toward the same end zone, both turn outward, skate to the opposite end zone, turn back and skate past center ice to the finish line. Six team points are available -- one each to the winner of the six individual races.
Allstate Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge™
A test of creativity a player can insert into a breakaway, three shooters (one Rookie, two All-Stars) and one goaltender from each team will participate. Each skater will attempt three shots – with no limits. Shooters can start their attempt from anywhere with full access to the offensive zone, including behind the net. NHL penalty shot rules do not apply. Fans in-arena and watching on television in Canada and the United States will be able to vote for their favorite player by texting the number that corresponds to the player of their choice to 81812. The shooter with the highest fan vote will score one point for his team.
Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting™
Four players from each team (one Rookie, three All-Stars) will compete, with four additional All-Stars from each team serving as passers. From 25 feet in front of the net, a shooter will take aim at four foam targets attached to the inner side of the goalposts, one target in each corner. The objective is to hit all targets in the fastest time. The player with the fastest time from each team will go head-to-head in the final round for the title of the NHL’s most accurate shooter. Five team points are available, one to the winner of each individual matchup.
G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™
Introduced to acclaim in 2011, this event will feature 16 players from each team (two Rookies, 14 All-Stars) and showcase a host of skills that include the 'one-timer,' passing, puck control, stick-handling and accuracy shooting. In the 'one-timer' event, three shooters (with the assistance of one passer) must score three goals over an eight inch barrier; in the passing event, one passer must complete a pass into each of six nets placed around the rink; in the puck control event, one skater will skate through a series of cones while keeping possession of the puck; in the stick handling event, one skater will control the puck through a series of obstacles; and in the accuracy shooting event, one player will take aim at four targets. Two groups from each team will go through the relay -- one from each team in a pair of heats. Each skill must be completed before moving on to the next skill in this timed relay event worth a total of three points. The fastest team in each heat will earn one point and the team with the fastest combined time will earn one bonus point.
BlackBerry NHL Hardest Shot™
Four players from each team (one Rookie, three All-Stars) will compete in five head-to-head matchups. One contestant from each team will square off in each round, valued at one point each. The highest recorded shot (by radar in mph) of two attempts will be scored. The player from each team with the hardest single shot will meet in a final match to determine the NHL’s hardest shooter. Five team points are available -- one to the winner of each of the four preliminary matchups and one to the winner of the finale.
Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout™
The battle between Team Alfredsson and Team Chara will be decided in this competition, when 15 participants from each side (one Rookie, 11 All-Stars, three goaltenders), compete in a time-honored game of “hockey survivor.” Shooters who score will move on to the next round in the shootout, with the All-Star goaltenders rotating after every third shooter.
The event will continue until one player scores and the other(s) do not in a single round -- last goal wins. Every goal scored will count as one point for the goal-scorer's team.
Team Alfredsson, captained by forward Daniel Alfredsson (OTT), will compete against Team Chara, led by Zdeno Chara (BOS). The NHL All-Stars and Rookies will participate in six events:
* Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater™
* Allstate Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge™
* Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting™
* G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™
* BlackBerry NHL Hardest Shot™
* Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout™
The determination of which players will participate in each event will be made today and order of participation will be determined by the captains just before the start of each event. Each All-Star will be involved in no more than three events, excluding the Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout™ finale.
EVENT BREAKDOWN
Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater™
Five players from each team compete, four All-Star skaters and one Rookie. The contest will consist of five preliminary races, with the player posting the fastest time from each team meeting in one final match race. The race format is new this year: one skater from each team is positioned side-by-side on the start line. Both skaters race toward the same end zone, both turn outward, skate to the opposite end zone, turn back and skate past center ice to the finish line. Six team points are available -- one each to the winner of the six individual races.
Allstate Insurance NHL Breakaway Challenge™
A test of creativity a player can insert into a breakaway, three shooters (one Rookie, two All-Stars) and one goaltender from each team will participate. Each skater will attempt three shots – with no limits. Shooters can start their attempt from anywhere with full access to the offensive zone, including behind the net. NHL penalty shot rules do not apply. Fans in-arena and watching on television in Canada and the United States will be able to vote for their favorite player by texting the number that corresponds to the player of their choice to 81812. The shooter with the highest fan vote will score one point for his team.
Canadian Tire NHL Accuracy Shooting™
Four players from each team (one Rookie, three All-Stars) will compete, with four additional All-Stars from each team serving as passers. From 25 feet in front of the net, a shooter will take aim at four foam targets attached to the inner side of the goalposts, one target in each corner. The objective is to hit all targets in the fastest time. The player with the fastest time from each team will go head-to-head in the final round for the title of the NHL’s most accurate shooter. Five team points are available, one to the winner of each individual matchup.
G Series NHL Skills Challenge Relay™
Introduced to acclaim in 2011, this event will feature 16 players from each team (two Rookies, 14 All-Stars) and showcase a host of skills that include the 'one-timer,' passing, puck control, stick-handling and accuracy shooting. In the 'one-timer' event, three shooters (with the assistance of one passer) must score three goals over an eight inch barrier; in the passing event, one passer must complete a pass into each of six nets placed around the rink; in the puck control event, one skater will skate through a series of cones while keeping possession of the puck; in the stick handling event, one skater will control the puck through a series of obstacles; and in the accuracy shooting event, one player will take aim at four targets. Two groups from each team will go through the relay -- one from each team in a pair of heats. Each skill must be completed before moving on to the next skill in this timed relay event worth a total of three points. The fastest team in each heat will earn one point and the team with the fastest combined time will earn one bonus point.
Four players from each team (one Rookie, three All-Stars) will compete in five head-to-head matchups. One contestant from each team will square off in each round, valued at one point each. The highest recorded shot (by radar in mph) of two attempts will be scored. The player from each team with the hardest single shot will meet in a final match to determine the NHL’s hardest shooter. Five team points are available -- one to the winner of each of the four preliminary matchups and one to the winner of the finale.
Tim Hortons NHL Elimination Shootout™
The battle between Team Alfredsson and Team Chara will be decided in this competition, when 15 participants from each side (one Rookie, 11 All-Stars, three goaltenders), compete in a time-honored game of “hockey survivor.” Shooters who score will move on to the next round in the shootout, with the All-Star goaltenders rotating after every third shooter.
The event will continue until one player scores and the other(s) do not in a single round -- last goal wins. Every goal scored will count as one point for the goal-scorer's team.
