The Fastest Slap Shot in NHL History

In 2005, Zdeno Chara set the record for the fastest Slap Shot in NHL history clocking in at 108.8 mph. Chara, who is a defenseman for the Boston Bruins is known for his booming slap shot and he regularly unleashes pucks at over 100 mph. In fact, his record-setting shot was actually 2.1 mph faster than the previous record holder, Al Iafrate.

The Record-Breaking Shot

In 2005, Montreal Canadiens left winger Steve Bégin set the record for the fastest slap shot in NHL history clocking in at an impressive 108.8 mph. Bégin’s record-breaking shot came during a pre-season game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and helped solidify his reputation as one of the league’s hardest shooters.

Since then, a number of other players have come close to matching Bégin’s feat, but none have been able to surpass it. In 2012, Florida Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson came the closest, recording a slap shot of 108.3 mph during a skills competition.

As the years go by, it seems increasingly likely that Bégin’s record will stand the test of time. With modern equipment and training methods, it’s possible that we may see even faster shots in the future – but it seems unlikely that anyone will be able to top Bégin’s record-breaking 108.8 mph slap shot.

The Player Who Holds the Record

The player who holds the record for the fastest slap shot in NHL history is Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins Chara’s shot was clocked at 108.8 mph during the NHL Skills Competition in 2012.

How the Record Was Broken

In 2005, Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sheldon Souray set the record for the NHL’s fastest recorded slap shot. His shot was clocked at 154.87 kilometers per hour (96.17 miles per hour). The record has since been broken by Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins whose slap shot was clocked at 168.8 kilometers per hour (105.0 miles per hour) during the 2012 NHL All-Star Skills Competition.

Other Fast Shots in NHL History

The NHL record for the fastest slap shot belongs to Zdeno Chara, who hit 108.8 mph at the 2012 All-Star Skills Competition. While that’s an impressive feat, it’s not the only fast shot in NHL history.

Other players who have taken incredibly fast shots include:
-Shea Weber, who recorded a 106.5 mph shot at the 2015 All-Star Skills Competition
-Joe Thornton, whose 105.2 mph shot at the 2010 All-Star Skills Competition is the third fastest in NHL history
-Steven Stamkos, whose 102.8 mph shot at the 2011 All-Star Skills Competition is the fourth fastest in NHL history
– Dustin Byfuglien, whose 102.7 mph shot at the 2016 All-Star Skills Competition is the fifth fastest in NHL history

Why the Slap Shot Is So Fast

The slap shot is the fastest shot in hockey, and it’s not even close. A well-executed slap shot can easily top 100 mph, and the record stands at an astonishing 108.8 mph. So how do players generate so much speed?

It all comes down to mechanics. A player starts the shot by bringing their stick back behind their head, using their Body Weight to create momentum. As they swing the stick forward, they transfer that energy into the puck, which is propelled forward at high speed.

The key to a successful slap shot is timing. If the player doesn’t get the timing right, they won’t be able to generate enough power to achieve a high speed. Even a small mistake can result in a significant drop in velocity.

Slap shots are notoriously difficult to control, which is why most players only use them when they’re reasonably close to the goal and have a clear path to the net. Any time there’s traffic in front of the net, or defenders are closing in quickly, players will opt for a Wrist Shot or backhand instead.

The Physics of the Slap Shot

In order to understand how Zdeno Chara was able to generate such a high speed slap shot, we must first understand the physics of the slap shot. The slap shot is unique among other shots in hockey because it is the only shot where the player is able to transfer all of their body weight and momentum into the puck.

When a player takes a normal wrist or backhand shot, they do not have enough time to wind up and transfer their whole body weight into the puck. As a result, the vast majority of the power for these types of shots comes from the player’s arms. In contrast, the slap shot allows for a larger wind-up because the player uses both their arms and legs to build up power. Additionally, instead of just their arms transferring energy to the puck, their whole body weight is used in the slap shot. This makes the slap shot significantly more powerful than other types of shots in hockey.

Now that we understand how a slap shot is more powerful than other types of shots, we can look at how Zdeno Chara was able generate such a high speedshot. One factor that played into this was his height and long reach. At 6’9″, he is one of tallest players in NHL history and has an extremely long wingspan. This gave him a large mechanical advantage when taking his slap shot because he was able to get his stick well above his head before hitting the puck.

Another factor that helped Chara generate such high speeds was his use of composites sticks. These sticks are made with carbon fiber instead of wood which gives them two big advantages over traditional wooden sticks. First, they are much lighter which means players can swing them faster. Second, they are much stiffer which means that more energy is transferred to the puck instead of being absorbed by the stick itself. When you combine these two factors, it’s not surprising that Chara was able to set the record for fastest slap shot in NHL history using one of these Composite sticks

How Players Can Improve Their Slap Shot

Although often thought of as a Power play the slap shot is an important tool for all Hockey Players A well-executed slap shot can be the difference between winning and losing a game.

There are a few things that players can do to improve their slap shot. First, they need to make sure they have the proper equipment. The stick should be the right size and weight for the player, and the blade should be curved correctly. Second, players need to practice their form. They should focus on keeping their upper body still and using their lower body to generate power. Third, players need to practice their aim. They should focus on hitting the sweet spot on the puck in order to achieve maximum velocity.

By following these tips, players can improve their slap shot and help their team win more games.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Zdeno Chara holds the record for the fastest slap shot in NHL history, with a speed of 108.8 mph. He achieved this feat at the 2012 NHL All-Star Skills Competition.

The Fastest Slap Shot in NHL History

Introduction