Goalies take part in hardest shot contest at KHL All-Star Game
While the NHL has forgoed an All-Star game this season, sending players to compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics instead, the KHL is full steam ahead with their All-Star festivities.
Over the weekend of February 7th, the second-best hockey league in the world held their All-Star event, which is structured similarly to the NHL’s current All-Star format, with multiple teams competing in a mini-tournament to go along with a skills competition. This year, however, the KHL introduced a pretty fun wrinkle the NHL may want to shamelessly steal. The KHL’s All-Star goaltenders competed in a “hardest shot” contest, creating some unusual and hilarious moments.
Note to self: It was a good idea to add "Hardest shot" to the "Goalies contest". #KHLAllStar
With all their gear on and using goalie sticks, the netminders took turns skating up to a puck and trying to shoot it as hard as they could into an open net, resulting in slapstick tumbles and full-on swing-and-misses. For whatever reason, watching goalies in full pads do anything other than play goaltender is always good for a laugh. It’s probably why goalie fights are such a beloved phenomenon in the hockey world, and it’s what made the KHL’s hardest shot contest between goalies such a good idea.
When the NHL holds its 2027 All-Star Game at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders, they have to at least consider incorporating the goalies-only hardest shot contest as part of their skills competition. The All-Star Game is the type of event that needs something new every few years to keep it fresh, and this seems a like a slam dunk to be a fan favorite.
Plus, goalies often make for the most captivating characters in the sport. Imagine the Florida Panthers‘ Sergei Bobrovky wiping out while flailing at a motionless puck, or the St. Louis Blues‘ Jordan Binnington getting genuinely upset after flubbing his shot. Make it happen, Gary!