SlasheR Retires, Royal Ravens Sign Exceed Ahead of Major 1 LAN
Call of Duty League veteran Austin "SlasheR" Liddicoat announced his retirement on January 6, ending a nearly 13-year professional career and leaving Carolina Royal Ravens to make a rapid roster change just before Major 1 LAN. The Ravens moved quickly to add Caden "Exceed" Stockdale to the starting lineup after trialing prospects and pursuing Jeremiah "Nium" Harrison, a decision that reshapes their early-season plans and has wider implications for CDL team dynamics.
Austin "SlasheR" Liddicoat, the oldest active player in the Call of Duty League, announced his retirement from competitive play during the holiday break, bringing nearly 13 years in the pro scene to a close. A 2016 world champion with Team Envy and a long-running presence on CDL rosters including OpTic Gaming Los Angeles, Atlanta FaZe, LA Thieves and most recently Carolina Royal Ravens, SlasheR's exit arrived at a precarious moment for his team.
The Royal Ravens were surprised by the timing; the organization still had two league matches to play and were preparing for Major 1 LAN. Carolina began the 2026 season 0-2 following losses to Riyadh Falcons and Boston Breach, and SlasheR's sudden retirement forced a rapid roster decision to stabilize the lineup ahead of the first major event of the year.
Carolina moved to add Caden "Exceed" Stockdale to the starting roster, promoting a Challenger-level talent into a high-pressure role for Major 1. The team had trialed several Challenger players in recent days and engaged in negotiations with Jeremiah "Nium" Harrison before those talks changed course when other teams intervened, shifting the available options for the Ravens and the broader market.
SlasheR's departure removes a veteran leader and in-game experience that few players can match, creating both an immediate gap in strategy and an opportunity for younger players to step into more prominent roles. For the Royal Ravens, the window between the roster change and Major 1 will be crucial for building chemistry, integrating Exceed into comms and playbook, and refining roles under LAN conditions.
For fans and followers of the CDL, this sequence offers several practical takeaways. Watch the league's official transaction listings and Carolina's announcements for final roster paperwork and eligibility confirmations. Expect Carolina's early matches at Major 1 to function as a proving ground for Exceed and the team's adjusted approach. Teams across the league may see this ripple effect as they reassess matchups and scouting reports based on Carolina's new lineup.
SlasheR leaves a significant legacy in competitive Call of Duty, and his retirement signals a moment of transition within the CDL as organizations balance veteran leadership and rising talent with the high stakes of the season's first major event.
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