Best Action Figure With Trading Cards

ARTUS IRBE / SAN JOSE SHARKS 1994 NHL Starting Lineup Action Figure & Exclusive Collector Trading Card. Displayed figure stands approximately 4 inches. Originally released in 1994 - Retired / Out of production. Ages 4 and up. From Kenner. Artūrs Irbe is a former Soviet and Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender. He has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. His NHL career began in 1991. His first NHL team was the San Jose Sharks, he played with them from 1991-92 to 1995-96. With Irbe between the pipes, the newly established Sharks made their first playoff appearance in the 1993-94 season and upset the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings. That season, Irbe played an NHL record 4412 minutes between the pipes for the Sharks. Irbe, affectionately known as Archie, was nicknamed "The Wall" and became a cult figure in San Jose, a status he enjoys there to this day. Following an injury (his hand being mauled by his pet dog in the offseason) and a poor 1995-96 season, Irbe was released by the Sharks. For the next two years, he was a backup goaltender for the Dallas Stars and the Vancouver Canucks (for whom he played significant stretches with ample success) until he became the starter for the Carolina Hurricanes in the 1998-99 season. Irbe was picked to be a member of the "World" NHL All-Star team in 1998-1999 season, where he became the first goalie to record an assist in an NHL All-Star game. The highest point of his career with the Hurricanes was 2001-02 when Irbe was instrumental in leading the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals where they fell to the Detroit Red Wings.