Chara retains hardest shot crown with record blast

By Steve Keating

RALEIGH (Reuters) - Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara retained his crown as the NHL's hardest shooter with a record 105.9 mph blast during the NHL All-Star skills competition on Saturday.

The hulking 6-foot 9-inch Slovakian bettered the previous record of 105.4 mph he set in 2009 to win the contest for the fourth consecutive time.

"Records are meant to be broken," Chara told reporters.

"I like to have fun at these things but at the same time when it comes down to showing what you have, we have to sell it."

New York Islanders rookie Michael Grabner claimed the fastest skater honors while Daniel Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks won the accuracy competition, as the fastest to shoot out four targets.

Washington Capitals' Russian showman Alexander Ovechkin claimed a third straight win in the breakaway challenge event held on the eve of Sunday's annual All-Stars game.

"If I win something I'm pretty," said Ovechkin, who also competed in the hardest shot competition.

"Lots of guys make different moves but a couple of them were pretty cooled."

(Editing by Julian Linden)