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Phases of the Phoenix


fishy

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Phases of the Phoenix: Matty Socks' Veteran Presence

 

My City - Phoenix in the fire

(Source)

 

When you ask about the life stages of a phoenix, the answer is usually framed in the cyclical phases through which the bird is reborn and begins with ash. No one ever talks about where the phoenix starts, and it doesn’t make much sense for a life cycle to start with death, and veteran defenseman Matty Socks agrees that Chicago arguably could not have started at the end of its cycle.

 

Phase I

 

The first stage in the life cycle of the Chicago Phoenix was inability to exist. Chicago’s team was brought to life in season 73 under the management of present GM Geoffery Dee. Geoff drafted Socks in the second round as he started thinking long-term about his team. For seasons 73 and 74, the Chicago core was still forming. Socks and his teammates Lee Xin, Christian Mingle, Adam Syrek, and Jean Pierre Camus fumbled their way through each game.

 

During his rookie season in S74, Socks posted 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points. He finished the season with a career low of -24 and a career-high 181 shots blocked. At this point, the Phoenix didn’t have the capacity to exist. When you’re just starting out, you barely have the resources to build a team, let alone pump it with steroids.

 

Phase II

 

The Phoenix quickly evolved in season 75 to stage two of the life cycle: birth. Season 75 saw the first buds of a team really starting to show. The locker room started to buzz with activity, especially after acquiring Jeff Downey, a defensive powerhouse in his last season, and L and R, a match made in heaven.

 

As the team developed, it was clear that Socks was heavily influenced by the incredible support on defense. Socks finished the regular season with 80 points, 9 more than the season before, with 24 goals and 56 assists. Though the team was young, they had a Cinderella run in the playoffs, losing the conference finals to the D.C. Dragons. The league erupted as an infantile team pushed unbelievably hard to establish their name in the league.

 

Phase III

 

The burn. The most iconic form of the phoenix is that in which it is a raging, unbelievable fire. Joining Chicago as rookies in season 76 were Steve Eso, Darius Marimoto, and Kloxified. We also acquired Kyl Oferson and Robin Winter, two powerhouse veteran forwards. The fresh talent and the refined skills of the veterans pulled together for the ultimate vibe sesh in s76. The locker room was filled with excitement, whether it be sharing music, playing games, or counting (yes, counting), the team developed a bond that no team could destroy.

 

Socks ended the regular season with 92 points, 20 goals and 72 assists. The Phoenix plowed through playoffs, knocking out the Seattle Bears in a 4-2 series; they didn’t hold back against the Vancouver Wolves, who they swept for the conference cup. The Warsaw Predators put up a strong fight, but Chicago finished out the series 4-1, much more difficult than the numbers suggest.

 

What’s next?

 

The question now, then, is how long the Phoenix can burn. Socks is very satisfied with the incredible success he’s had with the team in such a short time, especially considering that the team has only competed for 4 seasons. Mingle, Xin, Socks, Camus have re-signed contracts to continue playing together in Chicago, so only time will tell what kind of magic this crew can stir up.

 

Edited by fishy
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