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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.
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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 Mike Gartner (13.386) 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. http://www.iceskatehistory.co.uk/bauer.html
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.
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 and Jeremy Roenick in 2004.
Winners
^ #:Score in final round is listed
Skills Challenge Relay
This event consists of the following relays:
Two groups of each team participate: one-timers having left-hand shooters in one group and right-hand shooters in another.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Goaltenders Competition
Points are awarded to the goalie allowing the fewest goals against in In the Zone and Shootout/Breakaway Relay Events.
SuperSkills Conference winner
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.