Well, it's finally official. After the Seattle Argonauts' exit in the Challenge Cup Playoffs, Vaseline Podcalzone is officially hanging up the skates. Time waits for no hockey player, real or sim league, and comes for us all eventually.

I honestly wasn't sure if I was gonna put out a fluff piece, but I feel like I ought to put something out to acknowledge this end. After all, Podz ended up taking up four whole years of my life somehow. 

To be honest, I didn't know if I was gonna stick in the league when I first got drafted, but I suppose you could say I did, in fact, end up sticking around. One Four Star Cup in Podcalzone's rookie year as a fourth line plug  (remember those?) playing 8 minutes a game for Newfoundland, working up to being captain of the Berserkers, before basically becoming a mainstay in Seattle. TWENTY seasons with the Argos, setting franchise records and being the first to record 1000 points, all in an Argos sweater, is something I never thought possible. Of course, that's on top of becoming the second captain in franchise history after Cassius Darrow, and then helping the team win back to back Challenge Cups. 

I guess it goes without saying that after the final chapter should come some acknowledgements. @Rotti thanks for recruiting me bb. @JNH @SDCore @Nhamlet @juke thanks for guiding me through the sim hockey experience with Newfoundland, don't think I'd really be the user I am without the Zerks. Pinging a ton of Zerk teammates and LRmates along the way @teztify @Lime @Sopath @Sburbine @Patty @Samsung virtual assistant @Bfine @Toast @lmao @KlusteR @Rindiee @Nike @Festinator, I'm sure I missed a few but that just really goes to show the magnitude of impact Newfoundland has had on me and Podz

 @notorioustig @grok @reid @adamantium @efischermann @Ohtaay, appreciate you all allowing me that great privilege of playing out an entire (and honestly insanely long) sim league career all with one team. It really means a lot to know that Podcalzone has had a lasting impact on the franchise, and it has been, to say the least, an absolute blast. Some Argos teammates as well @Jayba1t @retuperkele @Salming @hhh81 @sve7en @jeffie43 @JURT @Rtpc31 @TheOPSquid @roastpuff @ShadowFenix @JuOSu and many more along the years and currently. Seattle's future is super exciting, and I can't wait to see the team turn the corner and really become a heavy hitter in the SHL once again.

I have a whole other player coming up that's probably going to take up even more time out of my life, and I'm pretty excited to see where that journey goes. For now though, Vaseline Podcalzone is taking one last lap around the ice, before leaving the game behind for good.