Rising From the Ashes (of the Socks): A Matty Socks HOF Article

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Matty Socks, Class of Season 90

User: @fishy

 

TPE: 1309

Position: D

Nationality: Canada

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 165 lbs.

VHL Drafted: 22nd Overall, by the Chicago Phoenix

VHLM Drafted: 5th Overall, by the Miami Marauders

Played for: Las Vegas Aces, Miami Marauders, Chicago Phoenix  

 

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Career Awards

 

Individual

All-VHL Second Team (3x) | S76, S78, S80  

Team

Victory Cup | S78
Continental Cup | S76

 

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Introduction & VHLM

 

  Matty Socks was had an early birthday, and the relatively unknown prospect jumped right into the VHLM headfirst. The Las Vegas Aces took a chance on this player on the waiver wire in S72. Progress was slow for the first couple of weeks, but then there was an explosion of growth, growing Socks into a 57 point defender by they got to their drafts.

 

Miami in particular was eager to jump on this up and coming player with their second of three picks in the middle of the first round. This was the expansion franchises’ first drafts, and with a legendary start to their existence, Chicago selected to-be Hall of Famer Jean Pierre Camus with their first selection, and then to-be Hall of Famer Matty Socks with their second.

 

With the future settled, Socks turned their attention back to making the most of the VHLM, and preparing to be a high-impact VHL player. Miami gave them the opportunity to be a top player, and explode offensively, nearly doubling their previous points, while putting up 35 goals from the blueline. This is exactly the sort of momentum a fledgling franchise needs from their initial prospects, and everything looked to be going perfectly to start.

 

While Miami fell dramatically to Minnesota in the S73 finals, this playoff experience and extra game time was very valuable to Socks moving towards the VHL.

 

   

Regular Season Stats

 

72 (LVA), 70 Game Played, 14 Goals, 43 Assists, 57 Points, +23, 154 Shots, 40 PIMs, 91 Hits, 104 SB, 3 GWG, 8 PPG, 2 SHG.

73 (MIA), 72 Games Played, 35 Goals, 69 Assists, 104 Points, +54, 235 Shots, 28 PIMs, 43 Hits, 72 SB, 7 GWG, 20 PPG.    

 

 

Playoff Stats

 

72 (LVA), 6 Games Played, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 3 Points, 0, 15 Shots, 12 PIMs, 11 Hits, 11SB,  1PPG.

 73 (MIA), 15 Games Played, 2 Goals, 10 Assists, 12 Points, +2, 43 Shots, 2 PIMs, 14 Hits, 22 SB, 1 GWG, 1 PPG.    

 

 

 

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Greatness in the VHL

 

  While Chicago didn’t particularly (yet), Matty Socks certainly came ready for action in S74. Entering the team as the top scoring defender in their rookie season, and leading the recently birthed franchise to a 6^th place finish in the North American Conference. With a point (minus one) per game season under their belt, expectations were high moving forward for Socks and the Phoenix.

 

The next season was a step forward for the team and Socks. They squeak their way into a playoff position, and Socks scores a few more points than the season before, while becoming a plus player. Already the 4^th highest scoring defender in the league, a few points, and 2 places behind fellow Phoenix superstar Jeff Downey. Chicago would beat out some historical giants in Seattle and Calgary before falling to the Dragons in the Conference Finals.

 

Expectations were big heading into S76, and Matty Socks was ready. Hurtling up the standings, and the scoresheet, Chicago dominated North America, finishing first in the Conference, and scoring the 2^nd most goals in the league along the way. Socks led the way by a significant margin on the back end, finding major success with team points leader Kyle Oferson. But most importantly, Chicago catapulted themselves through their Conference, taking down Seattle and Vancouver on the way to clearing out Warsaw for their inaugural Continental Cup victory. Socks tied for the team lead in points and played an over half of games on average. The two top picks from their debut draft came to work this playoff, with Camus only dropping two games along the way to the win.

 

There are always questions the season after a Cup victory as to whether the team has the power to repeat. Acquiring big name Spencer Elsby, their defensive core looked ready to dominate North America once again. Once again winning their Conference, on top of another great offensive effort, although this time the competition was a bit more primed to tighten up the standings. Socks scores another 80 points, leading their top unit and landing another top 10 D scoring performance. Everything fell apart rather quickly in the playoffs, failing to secure a single win, despite a team-leading 6 points from Socks.

 

As the epitome of consistency, Chicago came into this season ready to compete. They squeaked their way to a Victory Cup win, on the backs of a new top line featuring Darius Marimoto, Christian Mingle and Pekko Viitanen. With three 100 point players, Socks and with some help from Elsby, led this team to an offensive dominance. They would not keep up their usual success against the Bears, as they crumble in the Conference Finals after beating the Dragons in their opening round.

 

With a Cup under their belt, and a body of work already, Socks enters S79 attempting to maintain that level of success, and phase their way out of the league in style. Chicago would take a small step backwards finishing in a dismal second place in their Conference, behind the surging Bears. With Spencer Elsby out of the picture this season, Socks took on the brunt of the play again, leading the top unit to another great offensive season. Socks leads Phoenix defenders in points again, and the team comes into the playoffs in exactly the shape the league had come to expect. Chicago fought a long and hard battle against Los Angeles, who got the better of them in a 4-3 OTL.

 

It is in S80 that Matty Socks would eventually play their final VHL game, as victims to the debut of the Vancouver Wolves dynasty. Socks would come out swinging, and end their career with a career high in goals, assists, and points. They gave their all right to the very end, leading the team to a 109 point finish, just a few wins back of the unbeatable Wolves. Things were looking to be setting up for a Wolves and Phoenix showdown in the Conference finals, that being until the Dragons dealt the killing blow in yet another Game 7 4-3 OTL. Rumour has it this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as Matty Socks would retire following the season, having had a fulfilling and successful career, entirely with Chicago.   

 

Regular Season Stats

 

74 (CHI), 26 Goals, 45 Assists, 71 Points, -24, 270 Shots, 88PIMs, 113 Hits, 181SB, 3GWG, 13PPG.

75 (CHI), 24 Goals, 56 Assists, 80 Points, +2, 277 Shots, 24PIMs, 45 Hits, 154SB, 4GWG, 9PPG.
  76 (CHI), 20 Goals, 72 Assists, 92 Points, +13, 295 Shots, 92PIMs, 149 Hits, 150SB, 3GWG, 9PPG.

77 (CHI), 24 Goals, 60 Assists, 84 Points, +13, 269 Shots, 112PIMs, 132 Hits, 179SB, 5GWG, 12PPG.

78 (CHI), 18 Goals, 68 Assists, 86 Points, 27, 271 Shots, 62 PIMs, 78 Hits, 171SB, 2GWG, 9PPG.

79 (CHI), 19 Goals, 57 Assists, 76 Points, 11, 277Shots, 94PIMs, 123 Hits, 165SB, 4GWG, 10PPG.

80 (CHI), 29 Goals, 75 Assists, 104 Points, +37, 348 Shots, 114PIMs, 172 Hits, 157SB, 5GWG, 14PPG.

 

Playoff Stats

 

75 (CHI), 4 Goals, 14 Assists, 18 Points, +2, 53 Shots, 20PIMs, 27 Hits, 31SB, 1GWG, 4PPG.
  76 (CHI), 3 Goals, 13 Assists, 16 Points, +10, 30 Shots, 30PIMs, 40 Hits, 26SB, 1GWG.

77 (CHI), 1 Goals, 5 Assists, 6 Points, -5, 11 Shots, 10 Hits, 7SB, 1PPG.

78 (CHI), 2 Goals, 6 Assists, 8 Points, -4, 34 Shots, 8 PIMs, 10 Hits, 16SB, 1PPG.

79 (CHI), 1 Goals, 5 Assists, 6 Points, -1, 28 Shots, 12PIMs, 20 Hits, 19SB, 1GWG.

80 (CHI), 5 Assists, 5 Points, -5, 35 Shots, 8PIMs, 14 Hits, 23SB.

 

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Legacy

 

  Matty Socks was a legendary leader on and off the ice. They led their team consistently and reliably every season, bringing the same energy and the same exceptional level of performance we came to love and respect from them. Taking a franchise from inception to their first championship is not something many player get to boast of, and is an experience that one never forgets. Matty Socks separated themselves from the rest of their incredible peers in that COVID era of the VHL, jam packed with talent and ultra competitive leading into the 80s. As a first-gen, Matty Socks showed us how one can break into this league and dominate from day one. fishy would go on to have another incredible and single-team career with Bubbles Utonium, leading a second franchise to their first title, 10 seasons after fishy’s first with Socks. Congratulations on the (two!) great career(s), and we hope to see some more in the future!

 

Regular Season Career Record

 

160 Goals, 433 Assists, 593 Points, +79, 2007 Shots, 586 PIMs, 812 Hits, 1157 SB, 26GWG, 76 PPG.

 

Playoff Career Record

 

11 Goals, 48 Assists, 59 Points, -3, 210 Shots, 78 PIMs, 121 Hits, 122SB, 3GWG, 6PPG.

 

 1500+ words!

Edited November 1, 2023 by jacobcarson877