Jade’s Great Canadian Gamer Top 10

As I sit down to plan for my favourite truly Canadian holiday, I started to think about the legendary Canadian gamers that are working hard to put our great nation on the world stage of gaming.  I thought I would throw down my own (note: very subjective) opinion on who are the best Canadian gamers right now.  Have I missed someone?  Think my list could use an extreme makeover?  Shout out in our Canadian forums.

• Finger 11 – Having tricked out their tour bus with Xbox so they can play their beloved Halo and Guitar Hero between gigs, Finger 11 is hardcore about their games.  They will kick your butt at Halo, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
• Zach Mirosevic – A soccer star both on and off Xbox Live, this Victoria B.C. native continues to rock FIFA on Xbox 360 – now if our Canadian World team could only do the same!
• Kenny Hotz – In addition to being one seriously hilarious dude on the fast track to fame on Comedy Central in the U.S., he is also one of the most gifted Call of Duty players I have ever had the pleasure of being fragged by.
• Team EG – Evil Geniuses indeed!  This all Canadian team earns its spot for sticking together since 2002 to fight its way to a world leadership position.  Oh, and they also have a girls team, and they get bonus points for promoting the ladies with the skillz.
• Jamal George – He may be a man of few words, but his Madden skillz proved the strong silent type is definitely deadly.  Jamal earns his spot for taking not only the World Championship in EA Madden 07, but then gracefully taking the trash-talking U.S. winner to school by firmly thumping him next. 
• ST The King – Although he has since been overthrown as King of the Gamerscore Leaderboards, he still earns a spot for putting Canadians on the map as one of the first to gain notoriety for his passionate collection of achievements.
• Knuckles Dawson – Love achievements or hate ‘em, this guy is dedicated!  He has successfully scored a new achievement everyday since the launch of Xbox 360.  That’s discipline people – I approve.
• Barenaked Ladies – Nothing says Canada Day like a Barenaked Ladies concert, but when they guys aren’t making sweet music, they are fragging each other on Xbox.  Ed Robertson even shared his passion for video games old and new in Xbox Canada’s Celebrity Faces faceplate auction on eBay last year.  Up Up, Down Down, Left Right, Left Right, B A, Select Start.  Classic!
• Ryan Ward a.k.a. Offbeat Ninja – I first came across this Edmonton-based player when he schooled me at DOA4 during a tournie.  Since then, he has rocked tournaments all around the world with his fast fingers, and for that he earns my respect and the number two spot on my top 10.
• Nelson Triana a.k.a. Gspot – Ranked number one in Canada and number two in the world in Halo 2, this gamer from Kanata, Ontario recently hooked up with MLG and is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with on the global video games stage – let’s see how he does with Halo 3!