Ask not for whom retirement comes...

[solas 1,953]

 

Don’t look now, but Jean-Pierre Camus is playing his final season in the VHL. Originally drafted by the team in Season 73, Camus has been the team’s starter in between the pipes ever since the beginning of the franchise. He’ll be the first ever player to play his entire career in Chicago. He’ll also be one of the first two players to play eight full seasons for a Season 73 expansion franchise alongside London’s The Terrible Trivium (assuming neither player gets traded before next week’s deadline). On top of that, he’s also on track to become Chicago’s first ever player to play 500 games.

 

So what happens when he retires?

 

The VHL’s eight-season (now nine-season) career limit has created a certain balance to the league, an expectation that you can’t get too used to a player or a roster. But for the players themselves, retirement tends to creep up on you. It’s all fine and good seeing other people end their careers, but then your final season comes out of nowhere and you have no idea how to deal with the idea. That’s been exactly the case for Camus, who says he’s tried to just focus on hockey this season but has had a hard time getting retirement out of his head.

 

“It’s hard to imagine the fact that I won’t be playing for Chicago next season,” he explains. “Ever since I got drafted here, I’ve been focused on the team and how I can become a better player. Now it’s weird, because my playing days are about to end and I’m going to have to watch Phoenix games on TV. I can’t be on the ice anymore. That’s going to be hard to deal with.”

 

While Camus’ performances thus far suggest that he’s all in on this season, there are rumors that he has plans for life after the VHL. Since the recent offseason, reports have been swirling that he has a standing offer to work for the Phoenix in a non-playing capacity once his playing days are over. The most likely destination seems to be as a goaltending coach, as Camus has run seminars for young goaltenders in past offseasons. The organization has declined to comment on the matter, stating “Jean-Pierre Camus is a very important part of our team. It would be unfair to both him, his teammates, and all current Chicago Phoenix employees to publicly speculate about his future.”

 

Sources within the team, however, suggest that it’s not quite a done deal. “JP is very interested in maintaining his involvement with the franchise,” says one source with connections to both Camus and Chicago management. “But he doesn’t quite know what he wants to do yet. Thinking about what to do after his career has been difficult for him, and a lot of this season has been about trying to end things on the right note. There’s a good chance that he takes some time off and out of the public eye once this season is over.”

 

“I just want to focus on doing the best I can this season,” Camus says. “The future is too complicated.”

[JeffD 648]

It has been an absolute pleasure having you backstop the Phoenix since day one. Now let's go out on top.

Edited October 14, 2021 by JeffD

[fishy 1,757]

hi solas I'm just here for my last minute tpe

 

 

overall, i appreciate that your article incorporates quotes from your player and some of your wisdom as a long-time user. I'm really glad that you included your potential prospect to be a goalie coach, because as someone who just created a goalie, i may bring back JPC, my lord and savior, to the league in my player's background. i also love the flex of personal stats and records. my only critique (if you can call it that) is that the graphic you chose isn't one of the bangin graphics you've made for yourself during your career. 10/10 great article, better career