Vulcan (gamer)
{{Short description|Canadian League of Legends player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox video game player
| ID = Vulcan
| name = Philippe Laflamme
| name_trans =
| image = Vulcan at 2021 Worlds.jpg
| caption = Laflamme in 2021
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|20|2020|2|18}}{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Tyler |title=Vulcan isn't sure if he'll work in esports when he retires from pro play, will "probably go back to school" |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/vulcan-isnt-sure-work-in-esports-if-he-retires-probably-go-back-to-school |access-date=March 11, 2022 |work=Dot Esports |date=February 18, 2020}}
| birth_place = Laval, Quebec, Canada {{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/LCSOfficial/status/1556396688235175936 |title=LCS auf X |access-date=January 29, 2024 |date=August 8, 2022}}
| nationality = Canadian
| team = Cloud9
| role = Support
| league = LTA (North Conference)
| coach =
| game = League of Legends
| earnings =
| years1 = 2019
| team1 = Clutch Gaming
| team2 = Cloud9
| team3 = Evil Geniuses
| years4 = 2023
| team4 = FlyQuest
| years5 = 2024–present
| team5 = Cloud9
| highlights =
}}
Philippe Laflamme, better known as Vulcan, is a Canadian professional League of Legends support for Cloud9, in the League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA) North Conference. Previously, Vulcan had played for Clutch Gaming, the team that drafted him in the League Championship Series (LCS), Evil Geniuses, and FlyQuest.
Professional career
= Clutch Gaming =
Vulcan was invited to the LCS proving grounds following the 2018 season, in which he showcased his skills, as well as his communication and teamwork.{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Vulcan on Team Infernal: "I played some scrims recently with Tactical... He is probably the best ADC coming to Scouting Grounds." |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/6742/vulcan-on-team-infernal-i-played-some-scrims-recently-with-tactical-he-is-probably-the-best-adc-coming-to-scouting-grounds |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}} He was drafted fourth overall by Clutch Gaming, which gave the organization exclusive negotiation rights with Vulcan.{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2017 |title=Seizing The Moment {{!}} By Philippe "Vulcan" Laflamme |url=https://www.theplayerslobby.com/95/seizing-the-moment-scouting-grounds-vulcan-clutch-gaming/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=The Players’ Lobby |language=en-US}} Vulcan signed with Clutch, and entered the 2019 LCS season as their starting support, making his debut on January 26.{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2019 |title=League of Legends: LCS Week 1 Recap |url=https://www.hotspawn.com/league-of-legends/news/league-of-legends-lcs-week-1-recap |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Hotspawn |language=en-US}} The team had a rough start, going 5–13 in his first season, missing playoffs. Due to the team's poor performance, Vulcan's bot lane partner Piglet was released,{{Cite web |title=Clutch Gaming release former SKT bot laner Piglet |url=https://legacy.upcomer.com/clutch-gaming-release-former-skt-bot-laner-piglet/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Upcomer |date=June 15, 2019 |language=en}} and AD Carry Cody Sun was signed as his replacement.{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2019 |title=Cody Sun shines away from the spotlight in League of Legends |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/27687300/cody-sun-shines-away-spotlight-league-legends |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In the summer split, Vulcan and Clutch made playoffs as the fifth seed, and finished fourth overall, after losing the third place match to Counter Logic Gaming.{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2019 |title=CLG reverse-sweep Clutch for third in LCS |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/27456970/clg-reverse-sweep-clutch-third-lcs |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Xing |date=August 25, 2019 |title=CLG reverse sweep Clutch in the LCS third place match |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/clg-reverse-sweep-clutch-in-the-lcs-third-place-match |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} However they qualified for the regional gauntlet as the lowest seeded team,{{Cite web |last=Butts |first=Nick |date=September 6, 2019 |title=Five Things to Watch for in the LCS Gauntlet |url=https://thegamehaus.com/league-of-legends/five-things-to-watch-for-in-the-lcs-gauntlet/2019/09/06/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=The Game Haus |language=en-US}} and proceeded to defeat FlyQuest,{{Cite web |last=Abbas |first=Malcolm |date=September 6, 2019 |title=Clutch Gaming begin Worlds qualifier gauntlet run with win over FlyQuest |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/clutch-gaming-begins-worlds-qualifer-gauntlet-run-with-win-over-flyquest |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} Counter Logic Gaming,{{Cite web |last=Samples |first=Rachel |date=September 7, 2019 |title=Clutch keep their gauntlet run alive after taking down CLG |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/clutch-keep-their-gauntlet-run-alive-after-taking-down-clg |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} and Team SoloMid{{Cite web |date=September 9, 2019 |title=Parth addresses the TSM fans after loss to Clutch Gaming; failure to qualify for Worlds 2019 |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/9045/parth-addresses-the-tsm-fans-after-loss-to-clutch-gaming-failure-to-qualify-for-worlds-2019 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}} in consecutive matches to qualify for the third and final spot in the 2019 League of Legends World Championship.{{Cite web |last=O'Dwyer |first=Samuel |date=October 1, 2019 |title=What to expect from Clutch Gaming at Worlds 2019 |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/what-to-expect-from-clutch-gaming-at-worlds-2019 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} However at worlds, Clutch were unable to win a game in the group stage, becoming the first North American team to go 0–6.{{Cite web |last=Esguerra |first=Tyler |date=October 19, 2019 |title=Clutch are the first NA team to go winless in the Worlds group stage, as SKT secure first in Group C |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/clutch-are-the-first-na-team-to-go-winless-in-the-worlds-group-stage-as-skt-secures-first-in-group-c |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}
= Cloud9 =
In the 2019 off season, Cloud9 acquired Vulcan for a reported US$1.5 Million buyout.{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2020 |title=Vulcan to Cloud9 -- Inside the trade that defined the 2019 LCS offseason |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/28614276/vulcan-cloud9-trade-defined-2019-lcs-offseason |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} After several months boot–camping in Korea,{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2020 |title=How It's Made: Cloud9's dominant League of Legends roster |url=https://www.espn.ph/esports/story/_/id/29268442/how-made-cloud9-dominant-league-legends-roster |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Vulcan and his new bot lane partner Zven dominated the rest of the LCS in 2020,{{Cite web |last=Esguerra |first=Tyler |date=February 5, 2020 |title=Zven, Nisqy, and Vulcan are among the top 5 players with the highest KDA in the LCS |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/zven-nisqy-and-vulcan-are-among-the-top-5-players-with-the-highest-kda-in-the-lcs |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jerome |date=February 3, 2020 |title=Zven has a perfect KDA of 18/0/33, the highest in the LCS |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/zven-perfect-kda-lcs |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Esguerra |first=Tyler |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Head in the clouds: Why the 2020 LCS Spring Split is C9's most important season yet |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/head-in-the-clouds-why-the-2020-lcs-spring-split-is-c9s-most-important-season-yet |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} and Cloud9 went 17–1 on the season, with Vulcan and the entire C9 roster winning First Team All–Pro.{{Cite web |last=Binkowski |first=Justin |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Cloud9's entire starting lineup named to 2020 LCS Spring Split All-Pro first team |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/c9-starting-lineup-2020-lcs-spring-split-all-pro-first-team |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} Vulcan also received several MVP votes, although the award ultimately went to his teammate Blaber.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2020 |title=LCS finals roundtable -- can Cloud9 be topped? |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29046195/lcs-finals-roundtable-cloud9-topped |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} The team went on to sweep FlyQuest in the finals, and Vulcan won his first LCS title.{{Cite web |title=LoL Esports |url=https://lolesports.com/article/cloud9-finishes-historically-dominant-split/blt0c6b6e9bfab0eda6 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=lolesports.com}} MSI 2020 was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2020 |title=League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational Canceled for 2020 – ARCHIVE - The Esports Observer |url=https://archive.esportsobserver.com/riot-cancels-lol-msi/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |language=en-US}} so the next time Vulcan played was in the 2020 summer split, where he picked up a Second Team All–Pro award for his regular season performance.{{Cite web |title=2019 LCS Summer Split Awards |url=https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2019/08/2019-lcs-summer-split-awards/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=nexus.leagueoflegends.com |date=August 9, 2019 |language=en-US}} Despite their impressive spring split, Cloud9 lost in playoffs, finishing fourth and missing out on Worlds 2020, the first year Vulcan did not attend.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2020 |title=TSM returns to Worlds, Cloud9 misses for the first time in org history |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/12106/tsm-returns-to-worlds-cloud9-misses-for-the-first-time-in-org-history |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}}
In the 2021 LCS season, Vulcan was awarded another Second Team All–Pro in the spring split,{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2021 |title=The 2021 LCS Spring Split All-Pro teams have been revealed |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/13580/2021-lcs-spring-split-all-pro-teams-have-been-revealed |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}} after Cloud9 accrued a league best 13–5 record.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Michael |date=March 15, 2021 |title=Cloud9 secure first place in 2021 LCS Spring Split after victory over Immortals |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/cloud9-secure-first-place-in-2021-lcs-spring-split-after-victory-over-immortals |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The team went on to win another split after defeating Team Liquid in the Mid Season Showdown, Vulcan's second title.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Ethan |date=April 12, 2021 |title=Cloud9 win 2021 LCS Mid-Season Showdown over Team Liquid, secure ticket to Mid-Season Invitational |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/c9-win-2021-lcs-mid-season-showdown |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} Due to their spring victory, Cloud9 qualified for the 2021 Mid Season Invitational in Iceland.{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Jerome |date=April 28, 2021 |title=All of the teams qualified for MSI 2021 |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/all-teams-qualified-2021-league-of-legends-msi |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The team succeeded in the group stage,{{Cite web |last=Rockwood |first=Bryan |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Cloud9 Cooldown: Surviving the group stage at MSI 2021 |url=https://thegamehaus.com/league-of-legends/cloud9/cloud9-cooldown-surviving-the-group-stage-at-msi-2021/2021/05/14/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=The Game Haus |language=en-US}} but did not make is past the rumble stage, bowing out in fifth.{{Cite web |title=Cloud9 officially eliminated from MSI 2021 after MAD win over RNG |url=https://legacy.upcomer.com/with-no-comeback-scenarios-left-cloud9-eliminated-from-msi-2021/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Upcomer |date=May 18, 2021 |language=en}} In the summer of LCS, Vulcan was selected to the Third Team All–Pro as Cloud9 made playoffs,{{Cite web |last=Esguerra |first=Tyler |date=August 6, 2021 |title=LCS' 2021 Summer Split All-Pro first team features players from 5 different organizations |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/lcs-2021-summer-split-all-pro-first-team-features-players-from-5-different-orgs |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} and despite falling out of the upper bracket early, Cloud9 qualified for Worlds after wins over Golden Guardians, Evil Geniuses, and Team SoloMid.{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2021 |title=Cloud9 makes Worlds 2021, eliminates rivals TSM in 3-2 thriller |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/14910/cloud9-qualifies-for-worlds-2021-by-eliminating-tsm-from-the-lcs-championship-lower-bracket-3-2 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}} At the World Championship, Cloud9 made it to the quarterfinals,{{Cite web |title=DWG KIA, Cloud9 qualify for quarterfinals at Worlds 2021 |url=https://legacy.upcomer.com/dwg-kia-cloud9-qualify-for-quarterfinals-at-worlds-2021/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Upcomer |date=October 15, 2021 |language=en}} before losing 3–0 to Gen.G, finishing 5th-8th, Vulcan's best international finish.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Michael |date=October 25, 2021 |title=Gen.G cleanly sweep Cloud9, North America out of Worlds 2021, set up first all-Eastern semifinals since 2017 |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/gen-g-sweep-c9-na-out-of-worlds-2021 |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}
= Evil Geniuses =
Vulcan joined Evil Geniuses for the 2022 season,{{Cite web |last=Esguerra |first=Tyler |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Vulcan joins Evil Geniuses as starting support |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/vulcan-joins-evil-geniuses-as-starting-support |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} and noted that despite his respect for Zven, he wanted to try a new lane partner after two years together on Cloud9.{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2022 |title=Vulcan talks parting ways with C9, joining EG: "I still respect Zven a lot, but I wanted a change." |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/16233/vulcan-talks-leaving-c9-joining-eg-i-still-respect-zven-a-lot-but-i-wanted-a-change |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=InvenGlobal |language=en}} He won his second LCS title during the 2021 LCS Spring Season, beating 100 Thieves 3–0 in the finals.{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Ethan |date=2022-04-24 |title=Evil Geniuses lift first LCS trophy after sweeping reigning champions 100 Thieves in 2022 Spring Split finals |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/evil-geniuses-lift-first-2022-lcs-spring-trophy-after-sweeping-reigning-champions-100-thieves |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}