by Jeremy Waxman on Nov 18, 2015
When team captain and shot-caller Hai "Hai" Du Lam attempted to retire at the end of Season 4, Cloud9 knew there would be a transition period for their League of Legends squad. However, they didn't predict just how bad things would get, and Hai came out of retirement to lead his team all the way to the World Championships. He still would prefer to be part of Cloud9 in a role other than player, and the team might have taken steps to make that a reality.
It was revealed today that the organization has filled both the open jungle and support positions. In the jungle will be 2015 NA LCS Summer Split MVP Lee "Rush" Yoon-jae, a true playmaker who has quickly become known for his aggressive, but effective style. Joining him will be former Gravity Gaming support Michael "Bunny FuFuu" Kurylo, one of Gravity's most consistently strong players from last season.
There is still the possibility that C9 will have Hai sub in either role at some point, but they are certainly hopeful that it won't often be necessary. Hai's shot-calling prowess has become legendary, but the team is hoping another player will be able to assume those responsibilities, with Kurylo a possibility. With Hai and the retired Daerek "LemonNation" Hart around to guide him, that certainly isn't unreasonable.
If this new roster is able to find the winning ways that have become a hallmark of Cloud9's stay in the North American LCS, perhaps Hai will be able to actually retire as a player after all.