That is right everyone! NHL Series 18 just came off the truck, and within 1 hour, its on our website, figure wall, and blog for you to gawk at and potentially buy.

I think we may just be the first store in the area to get these, so get them fast, before they are all gone!

This bright series stars a mix of young hot-shots and older legendary players with a slight touch of “why did they put that in there?” Anywho, on with the lineup!

First in line is rock and roll legend(well, not that I know of, but he’s one heck of a hockey player) Joe Sakic. He is featured with the Colorado Avalanche jersey in white with maroon detailing. This team choice is likely because McFarlane has already released a Joe Sakic on the Nordiques, and also this series already has nordiques figures in it. Apparently there is a maroon chase figure of this one, but we didn’t come across it yet in the four cases we got. However, Keep your eyes open, we are bound to have it soon, as we do with everything.

Guy Lafleur is looking fantastically françois in his Quebec Nordiques Jersey. I just can’t help but love that team, and if you are interested in this series, it certainly helps. If it means anything, this is the only figure that does not have a helmet on, which leads me to believe that McFarlane is now merging the NHL Legends series into the regular series. Either way, a great figure.

Next in line, is yes, another Nordiques figure. Say hello to Mats Sundin! I believe this may be his 4th appearance in action figure form, and if he plays his cards right, he just might catch up with Wayne Gretzky’s 8 or 9 figures (I have completely lost count). The figure shows that McFarlane is putting more effort into the faces of these figures, as you will also see in the Jordan Stalls as well. Whether or not that effort is ending up looking like the actual player is a whole other issue.

Next in line is the bodacious (is that even a real word?*) Jordan Staal. And let me tell you, this guy knows how to party. A very nice figure, excellent facial detail, and an alright pose too. He’s just skating along, waiting to pass the puck to Sidney Crosby, I’m sure. There is also a white jersey variant of this figure, and we got one. Very exciting stuff, come check it out online and in store!

And here comes the head-knocker, after 4 series of action figures, and nearly a year of waiting, McFarlane Toys has finally included an Ottawa Senators player their sports picks. RAY EMERY!!!!!!! ……What? No applause? Is this figure too late? Why the glum faces? This goalie only took us to the Stanley cup finals last year, and we have received nearly 100 of this guys figure, so lets all just suck it up and buy him. I believe Ray Emery to be a misunderstood man, stuck in traps the media has laid for him. And hey, if you don’t believe it, then paint his helmet black or pop your favorite Darth Vader head on there.

Last in the lineup is Sheldon Souray? I don’t even know who this guy is, but apparently he plays defense for the Edmonton Oilers. His figure is in navy blue, and has his stick in the air as if to shoot the puck (An odd pose for a defense man, Todd).

There you have it, my NHL Series 18 review, now everybody come and get Ray!

Cheers,

-Gray

*Of course bodacious is a word.

-Chris

This weekend I traveled incognito to CanGames (Ottawa’s gaming convention) under the clever guise of “Conrad Albatross” to see if I could get the inside scoop on Ottawa’s gaming underground. I arrived at the convention center at around 2 pm on Saturday and was instructed to enter through the back door. My accomplice handed me my pass and I began my surveillance of the convention.

On first glance, it appeared to be a gamers paradise: miniatures, role-playing books, and boardgames as far as the eyes could see, but on a closer look it revealed something else… something I’d like to call “mad dealz.” “Mad dealz” is a term you use to describe an excess amount of savings to products you’d normally pay out the nose for. I was immediately drawn to the tables where I could find plenty of old Dungeons and Dragons books. These conventions bring product of the highest, and sometimes rarest quality, and today was no different. Toys on Fire brought its usual, enormous selection of board games (probably the largest in the city) and the prices killed the convention market, as usual. I quickly began to lighten my pockets.

After buying the weight equivalent to a small car in books, I quickly turned my attention to my second mission: finding “mad Warhammer dealz.” I was armed with $120 to get as much on the list as possible for our beloved Stephen- and ending up spending $180. Yes, the “dealz” were this “mad.” These conventions always somehow end up being tax-free, it was amazing.

As the show was winding down our friend Bill showed up after his job to take a look at some “mad dealz” at the show as well. As we all got our fill, Alex and I hopped in Bill’s stretch SUV limo thing and took a ride. That’s right, a DANG (forgive the pun, Dang) LIMO! It had a TV and an intercom, and crazy lights, and beverages, and EVERYTHING. BIG FAT TIRES AND EVERYTHING! I was King of the Town in that limo. Muchos gracias, Bill. We owe you one.

All in all, it was a lot of fun meeting up with our toy/hobby retail brethren, and local hobbyists to nerd out for an afternoon now it’s time for me to go back to being cool.

Why are you laughing? I’m cool, I swear!

I mean, I’m playing D&D tonight, but that doesn’t mean anything! I have an assortment of leather jackets!

…fine, don’t believe me? I’ll just put a HEX ON YOU! Or maybe a plague! A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES!

Conrad “the Hitman” AlbatRoss. Chris.