In a few days, several of the NHL’s best players will be in Florida for the traditional All-Star Game.
But over the years, the skills competition has become as popular, if not more so, than the classic itself.
Strongest shot, fastest skater… the players can demonstrate all their individual talents.
But what about officials? After all, there are linesmen and referees in the All-Star Game (even if they don’t give out penalties 99% of the time). So why not include them in the skills competition?
Scouting The Refs pitched the idea with some suggested trials.
Still waiting for the Officials’ events:
🎯 Puck drop accuracy
🦓 Fastest zebra competition
🙋♂️ Delayed penalty arm-up endurance challenge
👁️ Eye test
🏒 Refs vs. linesmen 3-on-3 game https://t.co/YR7pk5YEFa— Scouting The Refs (@ScoutingTheRefs) January 25, 2023
What do I think of this?
- A precision competition to drop the puck? Yes. I want to see that.
- The fastest referee? Bin kin. They must certainly be fast. I want to see that too.
- An endurance test: who has their arm raised the longest? Hmmm…yeah…but while other competitions are going on. Once in a while, we’ll take a quick look to see if an official still has his arm in the air.
- A visual test? Well no.
- 3-on-3 games between referees and linesmen? Wow…not either.
However, here are some other suggestions:
- A showdown where a linesman stops two players from getting close to each other for as long as possible.
- A discipline where officials must dodge shots from a varied distance.
- Whoever picks up the most pucks scattered on the ice in 30 seconds.
- The most powerful braking. The amount or distance of snow produced is calculated.
The referee or linesman who can whistle the loudest. - The reaction time (a bit like a start in F1, we measure the time it takes for an official to whistle when there is a red light that comes on).
- The official who remains the longest without reacting by being insulted by Brad Marchand or Brendan Gallagher.
And you, what would be your suggestions?