The Swedes dominated the All-Star weekend
Lauderdale Barracks. Now prove it.
Elias Peterson has one of the strongest hammers in the NHL.
He won the prestigious competition for most hits during the All Star Baluns Championships in Fort Lauderdale last night – ahead of Rasmus Dahlin.
– When I saw Rasmus fire his last shot, I thought he was going to hit me, but I backed away and it was so much fun to win, says the Swedish Vancouver star to Sportbladet.
Many moments—some very strange…—in the program when the NHL holds a “skills contest” in connection with its All-Star weekend and allows stars to measure individual skills, but none has the same status as the “hardest shot” discipline.
It suddenly became a Swedish show business. Last year in Las Vegas, Victor Hedman won the 103.2 mph (166 kph) gem – and at FLA Live outside Fort Lauderdale last night, Elias Peterson repeated the feat with a hammer just as hard.
– I didn’t feel any pressure, I just wanted to break my record for All-Star Weekend in St. Louis 2020 and I did, I smiled at the 24-year-old middle plate when we met him next.
The shot is definitely one of my main weapons. I have a good shot and I like to use it a lot. If I get into a position, I try to shoot, even if I go ahead sometimes. But I still practice the shot a lot. I’m not perfect, I can always improve.
I think Rasmus is going to beat me
The toughest challenge last night came from compatriot Rasmus Dahlen, who on his second attempt got a smoker at 102.3 mph (164.3 kph).
– Yes, when I saw Rasmus’ fire fired, I thought he was going to hit me, but I backed off and it was so much fun to win, says Elias.
The other two Swedes in South Florida over the weekend, Erik Carlsson and Linus Ollmark, didn’t have much to do on the first day of competition.
Erik, as promised, just went cheering his friends on and Ullmark’s only effort was to try and score into an empty box on the other side of the rink – which went like that.
But the Boston blockbuster is glad to be there.
– At first, I was very surprised by my choice. Then I took a break and thought about it and realized there was a reason to go here. It’s very honorable, he says.
On Saturday night, the actual All Star games are played. The first, between the Central and Pacific divisions, starts at 21.00 Swedish time.