Sens’ Kaliyev wins 2026 AHL Hardest Shot Competition, scores twice in All-Star Challenge

Most followers of the American Hockey League would know who Arthur Kaliyev is, based on his league-leading 29-goal total heading into the All-Star Break. But he should be even more well-known around the AHL after his performance at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Rockford, Illinois, this week.

Tuesday’s AHL All-Star Skills Competition pitted the best players from the Eastern and Western conferences against each other to show off their skills in seven events, including Inglasco Puck Control Relay, CCM Fastest Skater, Fortune Tires Rapid Shot, CCM Hardest Shot, Hard Rock Casino Rockford Accuracy Shooting, Hard Rock Casino Rockford Pass & Score, and the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay. Kaliyev took part in three events, helping the Eastern Conference earn points in Pass & Score and Breakaway relay, but his skills shone brightest during the Hardest Shot Competition.

After failing to register a speed on his first attempt, Kaliyev fired a 101 miles per hour during his first re-shoot. His second attempt also didn’t register, but on a second re-shoot, Kaliyev blasted one of the hardest shots the competition has seen in the past five seasons. Kaliyev stepped into a slapshot that was clocked at 104 miles per hour, to give him the win and honour of hardest shot in the AHL in 2025-26

Check out Kaliyev’s hardest shot heroics here:

On Wednesday, players were split into divisional teams to face off in the AHL All-Star Challenge three-on-three tournament, and Kaliyev made himself known again. Kaliyev had a couple of great chances in the North’s first game against the Pacific Division, and would eventually tally his first of the tournament midway through the second half of the game, burying a pass out from from Cleveland Monsters forward Luca Del Bel Belluz. Kaliyev finished game one with a goal and four shots. In their second game against the Central Division, Kaliyev would register another three shots, and score the game-winning goal in the second half, wiring a wrist shot into the top shelf, past Grand Rapids Griffins netminder Sebastian Cossa. Kaliyev would go shotless and pointless in game three, with the North finishing the round robin at a 1-2-0 record and failing to make the tournament’s final game.

The Pacific Division would be the overall winners, beating the Central Division 3-1 in the final game.

Here are some highlights from Kaliyev’s AHL All-Star debut:

Kaliyev and the Senators are back on the ice this Saturday (February 14) when they welcome the Hershey Bears to CAA Arena for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. The Sens and Bears will battle again on Family Day Monday (February 16) at 3:00 p.m., for the club’s first-ever 613 Country Game paying homage to the development path and connection between the Bay of Quinte and Ottawa.

Single-game tickets for all remaining home games in the 2025-26 season are now on sale via Ticketmaster or at the Belleville Sens Box Office located inside the Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre. Details on season seat memberships, flex packs, premium seating, the Business Edge program, and more can be found by visiting the Belleville Sens Website. 

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