If the OHL Had A Skills Competition, Who Would Win?

In spirit of the fun events happening in downtown Toronto for NHL All-Star Weekend, it's time to take a look at the possibilities if the OHL were to hold a Skills Competition. 

This year, the NHL Skills Competition seemed much more realistic than in years passed. The skills emulated some game situations, with passing on the fly, one-on-ones with the goaltender, and obstacle courses.

If the OHL were to hold a Skills Competition, who would take home the prize? Featuring six of the eight skills that were used in this year's NHL Skills Competition:

For the fastest skater, names like Kevin He, Denver Barkey, Jett Luchanko, and Nick Lardis come to mind. 

Luchanko just recently won the CHL Top Prospects Game's on-ice testing, which makes his case pretty clear. Barkey & He just always seem to be moving at top speed, several steps ahead of any opponent. 

For Nick Lardis, there is no doubt that his skating and speed is elite. Not only his straight-line speed, but his agility and crossovers are elite, making him the most ideal candidate to win a fastest skater challenge. 

Does anyone score more on the one timer than London Knights winger Kasper Halttunen? There's a reason the San Jose Sharks took him so high in the draft.

Halttunen never seems to miss the mark on an open one timer. This has been evident all season long in London, but also when he represented Finland at the 2024 World Juniors. 

Other names that come to mind are Colby Barlow, Arttu Karki, Carson Rehkopf, and Porter Martone.

Recently traded Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Brzustewicz would have a very high chance of winning the passing challenge. He never seems to miss the mark on a breakout, or any pass for that matter.

His passing vision and ability to put it on the tape every single time is what makes Brzustewicz such a reliable defender in the OHL. 

Other names that would likely do well in this competition include David Goyette, Henry Mews, Denver Barkey, Zayne Parekh, and Calum Ritchie. 

The hardest shot challenge may be one of the most difficult challenges to predict, but it would likely be one of the bigger, older defencemen in the OHL. Players I think would be in the running are Samuel Mayer, Arttu Karki, Connor Punnett — and a sole forward — Carson Rehkopf.

Given that we have seen him use his shot a little more this season — and it is certainly one to be aware of — Samuel Mayer would be the winner for this challenge. Between his strength and size, his shot is certainly one I wouldn't want to get in front of.

No one has had a better breakout season than Anthony Romani this year, and he has found a way to get himself onto the highlight reel a multitude of times. His hands and precision with the puck has scored him a lot of goals in tight. He has tremendous confidence on one-on-ones, and he knows he can manoeuvre the puck around any player or goalie.

Other players that come to mind in this category are Denver Barkey, Zayne Parekh, and Carson Rehkopf. 

This challenge has Carson Rehkopf's name written all over it. No one has a more precise shot in the OHL than Seattle Kraken prospect Carson Rehkopf, and he has certainly put that to work this season — with 37 goals. 

Though Carson Rehkopf would likely run away with the win in this challenge, other contestant would include Porter Martone, Quentin Musty, Luca Pinelli, and Gavin Hayes.