Vancouver Titans
{{short description|Canadian professional esports team}}
{{About|the Overwatch League team|the professional basketball team which was named the Vancouver Titans from 2008 to 2009|BC Titans}}
{{Infobox sports team
| name = Vancouver Titans
| logo = Vancouver Titans logo.svg
| upright = .85
| alt = The logo for the Vancouver Titans features a Sasquatch with a 'V' in the nose and a mountain range on the top of its head.
| founded = September 7, 2018
| last season = 2023 Overwatch League season
| current_icon = Esports
| league = Overwatch League
| region = West
| history = Vancouver Titans
(2018–2023)
| arena =
| colours = {{color box|#0a226c}} {{color box|#2fb228}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
| owner = Canucks Sports & Entertainment
| gm =
| coach =
| championships =
| uniforms = Vancouver Titans Jersey.svg
| main_sponsor =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
The Vancouver Titans were a professional Overwatch esports team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Titans competed in the now defunct Overwatch League (OWL) as a member of the league's West region. Founded in 2018, the Vancouver Titans began play as one of eight expansion teams in 2019 and is one of two professional Overwatch teams in Canada (the other, Toronto Defiant). The team is owned by Canucks Sports & Entertainment, owners of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League (NLL).
For their inaugural season, the Titans signed a roster consisting of mostly members from Korean Overwatch Contenders team RunAway. In their first year, they reached all three of the stage playoffs, made two stage final appearances, won one stage title, finished at the top of the regular season standings, and reached the 2019 Grand Finals, where they ultimately lost to the San Francisco Shock. However, conflicts between players and management resulted in the Titans organization parting ways with their entire roster at the beginning of the 2020 season. Since then, the Titans have failed to reach any playoffs and had their worst season in 2021, ending it with a 1–15 regular season record.
History
On September 7, 2018, Activision Blizzard announced that NHL's Vancouver Canucks ownership Aquilini Group had purchased a slot for the Vancouver-based franchise for a reported $30 million to $60 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/24600366/overwatch-league-reveals-toronto-paris-four-other-new-franchises|title=Overwatch League reveals Toronto, Paris, and four other new franchises|last=Rand|first=Emily|work=ESPN|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=November 11, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/the-overwatch-leagues-8-new-teams-are-preparing-for-season-two|title=It's official: All 8 new teams coming to Overwatch League have been revealed|last=Carpenter|first=Nicole|date=September 7, 2018|website=Dot Esports|access-date=November 11, 2018}} "Esports has seen extraordinary success and continues to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world," said Aquilini Group managing director Francesco Aquilini in a statement. "We can't wait to launch the team in Vancouver."{{cite news |last1=Black |first1=Matthew |last2=Haberstroh |first2=Max |title=Canucks owners bring pro esports team to Vancouver |date=September 7, 2018 |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-canucks-esports-1.4813927 |access-date=March 21, 2019}} On October 18, the team announced they had partnered with Canadian esports organization Luminosity Gaming to add esports expertise to the organization.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/25016693|title=Vancouver Overwatch team partners with Luminosity Gaming|date=2018-10-18|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-24}}
On December 1, a video revealed the Vancouver Titans' brand during the second intermission of a Vancouver Canucks game, concluding with "Today, we release the Titans." The team also announced that it had signed all eight members of the Korean Overwatch Contenders champions RunAway and Hwang "Pajion" Ji-sub as the team's head coach.{{cite news |agency=Reuters |title=Overwatch: Vancouver Titans reveal branding, roster |date=December 1, 2018 |work=ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/page/overwatchvancouvertitans/overwatch-league-vancouver-titans-reveal-branding-roster |access-date=March 21, 2019}}
= 2019: Grand Finals appearance =
File:Vancouver Titans at 2019 OWL Grand Finals.jpg.]]
Vancouver's first OWL match was a 4–0 sweep over the Shanghai Dragons.{{cite news |last=Fossett |first=Wyatt |title=Vancouver Titans win their Overwatch League debut |date=February 17, 2019 |work=Daily Hive |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-titans-overwatch-league-debut |access-date=June 20, 2019}} Behind a core starting lineup of Park "Bumper" Sang-beom, Choi "JJANU" Hyun-woo, Kim "Haksal" Hyo-jong, Seo "SeoMinSoo" Min-soo, Kim "SLIME" Seong-jun, and Lee "Twilight" Ju-seok, the Titans posted a 7–0 record in the first stage of the season. The team capped off the stage running through the Stage 1 playoffs, going on to defeat the San Francisco Shock, 4–3, in the Stage 1 finals.{{cite news |last1=Erzberger |first1=Tyler |title=Vancouver Titans crush Overwatch League in Stage 1 |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/26352540/vancouver-titans-crush-overwatch-league-stage-1 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=ESPN |date=March 24, 2019}} The Titans reached the Stage 2 finals, going undefeated in the process, where they again faced the Shock. However, their undefeated streak came to an end, as they lost the match, 2–4.{{cite news |last1=Samples |first1=Rachel |title=San Francisco Shock are the Overwatch League's stage 2 champions |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/san-francisco-shock-are-the-overwatch-leagues-stage-2-champions |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=May 12, 2019}} The Titans recorded an OWL record 19-game regular season winning streak, which was snapped Stage 3, as they lost their first regular season match on June 23, against the Los Angeles Valiant.{{cite news |last1=Fossett |first1=Wyatt |title=LA Valiant End Vancouver Titans' 19-Game OWL Winning Streak |url=https://www.twingalaxies.com/feed_details.php/5663/la-valiant-end-vancouver-titans-19-game-owl-winning-streak/24 |access-date=September 20, 2019 |work=Twin Galaxies |date=June 23, 2019}} While they qualified for the Stage 3 playoffs, Vancouver was defeated by the Shanghai Dragons in the semifinals round.{{cite news |last1=Heinisch |first1=Sascha |title=Shanghai Dragons unexpectedly make Stage 3 playoff finals |url=https://upcomer.com/overwatch/story/1426239/shanghai-dragons-upset-vancouver-titans-owl-stage-3-playoffs |access-date=September 20, 2019 |work=Upcomer |date=July 14, 2019}} The league introduced a 2-2-2 role lock for Stage 4; on August 16, the Titans signed tank player Hwang "TiZi" Jang-hyeon, who was a former player for RunAway.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Vancouver Titans signs main tank TiZi |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/vancouver-titans-signs-main-tank-tizi |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 16, 2019}} Vancouver ended the regular season with a league-best 25–3 record and the top seed in the season playoffs.{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Joseph |title=Breaking down Overwatch League's season two finale |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/27/20880687/overwatch-league-season-two-final-analysis-shock-titans |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Polygon |date=September 27, 2019}} Haksal and Twilight were awarded Role Star commendations on the season;{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Overwatch League reveals Role Stars awards |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/overwatch-league-reveals-role-stars-awards |access-date=September 20, 2019 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 31, 2019}} Haksal was also named the OWL Rookie of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Haksal is Overwatch League's Rookie of the Year |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/haksal-is-overwatch-leagues-rookie-of-the-year |access-date=September 20, 2019 |work=Dot Esports |date=September 5, 2019}} In the season playoffs, Bumper and TiZi split playing time, with TiZi taking more time as the playoffs went on.{{cite news |title=Overwatch League's Vancouver Titans sign ryujehong, release Bumper |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/28178678/overwatch-league-vancouver-titans-sign-ryujehong-release-bumper |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=ESPN |date=November 27, 2019}} Vancouver ran through the upper bracket of the season playoffs, ultimately defeating the New York Excelsior, 4–3, in the upper bracket finals to advance to the Grand Finals.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Vancouver Titans defeat NYXL, advance to Overwatch League Grand Finals |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/vancouver-titans-defeat-nyxl-advance-to-overwatch-league-grand-finals |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=September 13, 2019}} In a rematch of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 finals, the Titans faced the Shock in the Grand Finals on September 29. However, the Titans were held without winning a single map in the series, losing 0–4, and finished as the league's runners-up.{{cite news |last1=Amenabar |first1=Teddy |title=Shock and Awe: San Francisco's versatility sweeps aside Vancouver Titans for Overwatch League title |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/esports/2019/09/30/shock-awe-san-franciscos-versatility-sweeps-aside-vancouver-titans-overwatch-league-title/ |access-date=March 15, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 30, 2019}}
= 2020–present: Roster collapse and years of rebuilding =
Following the 2019 season, the Vancouver Titans parted ways with four of their players, including Bumper and TiZi.{{cite news |title=Vancouver Titans officially part with remaining roster |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/esports-overwatch-van-roster/vancouver-titans-officially-part-with-remaining-roster-idUSFLM2Gy0lv |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Reuters |date=May 6, 2020}} The team signed two former Seoul Dynasty players in tank Baek "Fissure" Chan-hyung and support Ryu "ryujehong" Je-hong. The team began their season living in Vancouver and practicing at a gaming facility at Adamas Esports Training and Performance at Fortius Sport & Health. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Overwatch League shifted all matches to an online format. The Titans players requested to move back to South Korea amid the pandemic, which was approved by Aquilini management. However, Aquilini would not fund the team a team house, nor would they provide a training facility for them to practice at. In South Korea, the Titans players encountered technical difficulties playing from their homes and eventually boycotted practice.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Jacob |last2=Rand |first2=Emily |title=Vancouver Titans release majority of roster, will sign Second Wind players |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29143164/vancouver-titans-release-majority-roster-sign-second-wind-players |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=ESPN |date=May 6, 2020}} According to Tim Holloway, esports director of Aquilini Group, the Titans originally planned to compete in the league's newly formed Asia region, but the time difference "made it difficult for management and the home fanbase to connect with the team and technical challenges for the players playing from home further exacerbated the situation."{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=The Overwatch League's troubles continue as top team drops entire roster |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/6/21249675/overwatch-league-owl-vancouver-titans-roster-cuts-esports |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=The Verge |date=May 6, 2020}} Unable to resolve differences between players and management, the Titans organization parted ways with tank JJANU and head coach Pajion on April 30 and released the rest of their roster on May 6.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=JJANU, head coach Pajion part ways with Vancouver Titans |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/jjanu-head-coach-pajion-part-ways-with-vancouver-titans |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=April 30, 2020}} Days later, the Titans announced the hiring of Steven "Flubby" Coronel as their new head coach and signed a roster consisting entirely of the players from North American Overwatch Contenders team Second Wind.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Vancouver Titans signs new roster of Second Wind, global Overwatch Contenders players |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/vancouver-titans-signs-new-roster-of-second-wind-global-overwatch-contenders-players |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=May 8, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Plana |first1=Vincent |title=Vancouver Titans unveil brand new team after parting with entire roster |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-titans-brand-new-roster |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Daily Hive |date=May 8, 2020}} The team struggled throughout the season, finishing with a 6–15 regular season record. A 0–3 loss to the Washington Justice in the North America play-in tournament on September 3 ended the team's season.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Houston Outlaws, Vancouver Titans eliminated from Overwatch League playoffs |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/houston-outlaws-vancouver-titans-eliminated-from-overwatch-league-playoffs |access-date=February 3, 2021 |work=Dot Esports |date=September 3, 2020}}
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, the Titans retained half of their roster from the previous season and picked up underperforming players who were dropped or traded from other OWL teams to fill their holes.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Perfecting a monster: Vancouver Titans 2021 team preview |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/perfecting-a-monster-vancouver-titans-2021-team-preview |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=April 14, 2021}} The team did not outperform expectations, going on a 12-game losing streak to start the season. Vancouver picked up its first win of the season on August 6, 2021, with a 3–0 win over the Boston Uprising — their first win in nearly a year.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Vancouver Titans win first 2021 Overwatch League season match |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/vancouver-titans-win-first-2021-overwatch-league-season-match |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 6, 2021}} The Titans ended the season with a 1–15 record, marking their worst finish in franchise history.{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Vancouver Titans drops entire roster heading into 2022 |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/vancouver-titans-drops-entire-roster-heading-into-2022 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=October 10, 2021}}
After an abysmal 2021 season, the Titans again dropped their entire roster. The team picked up seven players, forming a mixed nationality roster, in the offseason, including former Toronto Defiant hitscan player Luka "Aspire" Rolovic and former Atlanta Reign support player Petja "Masaa" Kantanen.{{cite news |title=Vancouver Titans sign Skairipa, Seicoe |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/esports-overwatch-van-signings/vancouver-titans-sign-skairipa-seicoe-idUSFLM1zFzwx |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Reuters |date=January 5, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Liz |title=Vancouver Titans reveals 2022 Overwatch League roster |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/vancouver-titans-reveals-2022-overwatch-league-roster |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=November 23, 2021}}
Team identity
On December 1, 2018, the Aquilini Group officially unveiled the Vancouver Titans brand. The name Titans is "indicative of the traits associated with the Sasquatch – a powerful, imposing, and mythical being." The logo features the Pacific Northwest folklore figure with a 'V' in the nose and a mountain range on the top of its head in the team's colours of blue, green, and white. The colours represent the greenery that surrounds the Pacific Ocean in the Vancouver area and are similar of that of the Vancouver Canucks' official colours. "In choosing our identity we wanted to introduce a team that would resonate with fans in the Pacific Northwest," Aquilini Group managing editor Francesco Aquilini said in a statement. "With a local feel and an experienced, skilled team, we are ready and can't wait to have the Titans compete at the highest level in esports."{{cite news |title=Introducing the Vancouver Titans: The New Overwatch League Team Competing in the 2019 Season |date=December 3, 2018 |work=Gamasutra |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/332016/INTRODUCING_THE_VANCOUVER_TITANS_THE_NEW_OVERWATCH_LEAGUE_TEAM_COMPETING_IN_THE_2019_SEASON_nbsp.php |access-date=March 21, 2019}}
Partnerships
In August 2019, the Vancouver Titans announced a partnership with Circle K on limited edition souvenir cups that featured images of Titans players Twilight, Haksal, Bumper, and SeoMinSoo.{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Trent |title=Circle K Stocking Vancouver Titans-Branded Souvenir Cups |url=https://archive.esportsobserver.com/circle-k-vancouver-titans-cups/ |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=The Esports Observer |publisher=Sports Business Journal |date=August 9, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Strickland |first1=Will |title=Vancouver Titans collectible cups available at Circle K |url=https://dotesports.com/news/vancouver-titans-circle-k |access-date=March 15, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 8, 2019}}
Personnel
= Current roster =
{{Esports roster header|team=Vancouver Titans|num=yes|role=yes}}
{{Esports player | num = x | handle = Sugarfree | first = Kamden | last = Hijada | role = Damage | nat=USA}}
{{Esports player | num = x | handle = HeeSang | name = Chae Hee-sang | role = Damage | nat=KR}}
{{Esports player | num = x | handle = Punk | first = Leyton | last = Gilchrist | role = Tank | nat=AUS |nolink=yes}}
{{Esports player | num = x | handle = Faith | name = Kim Hong-gyu | role = Support | nat=KOR}}
{{Esports player | num = x | handle = Crimzo | first = William | last = Hernandez | role = Support | nat=CAN}}
{{Esports roster footer
| head_coach =
- Valentin "Ascoft" Wulfman
| otherlegend = (2W) Two-way player
| roster_url = https://titans.overwatchleague.com/en-us/roster
| transaction_date = July 11, 2023
}}
= Head coaches =
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Handle
! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Name ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Seasons ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Record ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Notes ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| Pajion
| Hwang Ji-sub | 2019–2020 | 27–5 {{small|({{winpct|27|5}})}} | {{small|Released after four games in 2020.}} |
| Flubby
| Steven Coronel | 2020–2022 | 5–34 {{small|({{winpct|5|34}})}} | {{small|Released after six games in 2022.}} | {{cite news |last1=Spies |first1=Julian |title=OWL: Titans ziehen Konsequenzen |trans-title=OWL: Titans are taking action |url=https://www.sport1.de/news/esports/overwatch/2022/06/overwatch-league-titans-trennen-sich-von-seicoe-und-coaches |access-date=June 8, 2022 |work=Sport1 |date=June 3, 2022 |language=German}} |
| dpei
| David Pei | 2022 | 5–13 {{small|({{winpct|5|13}})}} | |{{Cite tweet |author= Vancouver Titans |user= VancouverTitans |number=1533886881644941312 |date= June 6, 2022|title= Welcome to the team @dpei_ow}}{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Ben |title=Vancouver Titans part ways with head coach Dpei |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/vancouver-titans-part-ways-with-head-coach-dpei-1219433/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |work=Gamereactor UK |date=November 8, 2022}} |
| Ascoft
| Valentin Wulfman | 2023–present | 8–8 {{small|({{winpct|8|8}})}} | |
Awards and records
= Seasons overview =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" | Season
! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |{{Abbr|P|Matches played}} ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |{{Abbr|W|Matches won}} ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |{{Abbr|L|Matches lost}} ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |{{Abbr|W%|Win percentage}} ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Finish ! style="background:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|1}}; color:#{{OWL color|Vancouver Titans|2}}" |Playoffs |
|---|
| 2019
| 28 | 25 | 3 | {{winpct|25|3}} | style="text-align:left" | 1st, Pacific | style="text-align:left" | Lost in Grand Finals, 0–4 (Shock) |
| 2020
| 21 | 6 | 15 | {{winpct|6|15}} | style="text-align:left" | 10th, North America | style="text-align:left" | Did not qualify |
| 2021
| 16 | 1 | 15 | {{winpct|1|15}} | style="text-align:left" | 12th, West | style="text-align:left" | Did not qualify |
| 2022
| 24 | 5 | 19 | {{winpct|5|19}} | style="text-align:left" | 11th, West | style="text-align:left" | Did not qualify |
| 2023
| 16 | 8 | 8 | {{winpct|8|8}} | style="text-align:left" | 5th, West | style="text-align:left" | Did not qualify |
= Individual accomplishments =
{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-4}}
Rookie of the Year
- Haksal (Kim Hyo-jung) – 2019
{{col-2-of-4}}
Role Star selections
- Haksal (Kim Hyo-jung) – 2019
- Twilight (Lee Ju-seok) – 2019
{{col-3-of-4}}
All-Star Game selections
- Bumper (Park Sang-beom) – 2019
- Haksal (Kim Hyo-jong) – 2019
- SLIME (Kim Seong-jun) – 2019
- Twilight (Lee Ju-seok) – 2019
- sHockWave (Niclas Jensen) – 2020
{{col-4-of-4}}
All-Star Game head coaches
- Pajion (Hwang Ji-sub) – 2019
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Vancouver Titans}}
- {{Official website|https://vancouvertitans.gg/}}
{{Vancouver Titans}}
{{Overwatch League}}
{{Vancouver Sports}}
Category:Overwatch League teams
Category:Esports teams established in 2018