LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 04: Timo Meier #28 of the San Jose Sharks competes within the Hardest shooter competitors throughout the 2022 NHL All-Star Expertise at T-Cellular Enviornment on February 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Photos)
Timo Meier might need anticipated to listen to just a few boos from the group at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas earlier than the toughest shot competitors within the NHL All-Star Sport’s abilities competitors on Friday – given the rivalry between the Sharks and the host staff, the Golden Knights.
What Meier didn’t know, although, was whether or not he might eclipse 100 mph within the competitors.
“I can’t promise something, however I’m going to strive as arduous as I can, and we’ll see,” Meier stated Friday morning when requested about breaking the century mark. “We’ll see how briskly that's.”
Meier, not precisely identified for his slap shot, had a shot of 100.1 mph however completed fourth within the competitors behind Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (103.2), New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (102.2), and Washington Capitals ahead Tom Wilson (101.1).
“I didn’t actually know what to anticipate, however I had enjoyable with it,” Meier stated. “I’m blissful to interrupt 100. Coming in, I actually didn’t know the way quick I used to be going to have the ability to shoot. However cracking 100 was fairly good for myself.”
Different competitors winners included former Sharks captain Joe Pavelski within the 21 in ’22 sport, the place gamers shot at giant enjoying playing cards in a blackjack-style sport on Las Vegas Boulevard. Pavelski is in his third season with the Dallas Stars.
Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo received the Breakaway Problem, Columbus’ Zach Werenski
received the Fountain Face-Off in entrance of the Fountains of Bellagio, goalie Jack Campbell and Andrei Vasilevskiy of Toronto and Tampa Bay, respectively, took the NHL Save Streak competitors, St. Louis’ Jordan Kyrou received the Quickest Skater occasion and Carolina’s Sebastian Aho received the Accuracy Taking pictures contest.
Meier on Saturday will compete with the Pacific Division staff within the 3-on-3 event that begins at midday (PST).
The Pacific staff, with former Sharks coach Pete DeBoer behind the bench, will play the Metropolitan Division staff in a single semifinal and the Atlantic and Central division groups will meet within the different, and the winners will meet within the ultimate.
“(DeBoer) helped me quite a bit when he was the coach for the Sharks,” Meier stated. “At all times loved having him as a coach, and it’s going be enjoyable having him behind the bench tomorrow competing with us.”
Meier, 25, was chosen to play in his first all-star sport on Jan. 13 at a time when he led the Sharks with 24 assists and 39 factors. 4 days later, Meier set a brand new franchise file by scoring 5 objectives towards the Los Angeles Kings at SAP Middle and entered the break with 21 objectives and a team-high 47 factors in 41 video games.
“I’m a man who at all times places stress on myself,” Meier stated. “I wish to be one of the best model of myself every single day and be one of the best participant I will be for the staff.”
The NHL introduced earlier than the abilities competitors that the World Collection would return within the fall. Preseason video games will probably be held in Switzerland and Germany, and regular-season video games in Finland and the Czech Republic.
Groups, dates, and cities for the worldwide video games will probably be introduced later. However, contemplating the Sharks have a Swiss-born all-star in Meier and a German-born proprietor in Hasso Platter, a co-founder of software program large SAP, one of many NHL’s main company sponsors, it stands to purpose that the Sharks could be one of many groups thought-about for participation.
The Sharks have competed outdoors of North America twice earlier than.
In 1998, the Sharks performed two regular-season video games with the Calgary Flames in Tokyo, and in 2010, they have been one in every of six groups to participate within the NHL Premiere in Europe. The Sharks performed one sport in Germany, vs. Adler Mannheim in an exhibition sport, and two video games in Stockholm towards the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Boston and Nashville have been scheduled to play preseason video games in Mannheim, Germany and Bern, Switzerland, and regular-season video games in Prague in 2020, however these video games have been canceled due to the pandemic.
“Clearly superior to have the sport over there. If it’s near house, I feel that might be unbelievable,” Meier stated. “Simply to sort of have my household or my mates, everyone, get there and watch a sport again house could be unbelievable.”
There was one different Swiss-born all-star on the sport – Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, who was making his fourth look within the sport.
“I’m undoubtedly proud to be right here and characterize the nation with Roman,” Meier stated. “We’ve taken some steps in the proper path (with) Swiss hockey.”