9.22.2013

2013 Tippmann Challange



Everyone has heard the hype surrounding paintball mega games but why are big games so special? At big games players get much more than just a day of trigger squeezing. At a big game you get not only a target rich environment but you get to see things like Darth Vader, Ironman, Sarge from Halo, and a jungle explorer riding an ostrich.



Tippinators love big games so much that part of the team made the twenty eight hour round trip drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, Quebec to attend Tippmann Challenge held at Paintball Mirabel on August 10, 2013.

The Tippmann challenge has been a tradition at Paintball Mirabel, since 2006. The reputation of the Tippmann Challenge is based on the quality of the scenario and an incomparable quality price ratio for an event of that caliber, Paintball Mirabel delivers on both counts.

PBL Action Sports, in conjunction with Tippmann Sports, bring their years of paintball expertise to produce a scenario game for 1500 paintball players from across the country who gathered in Quebec for the challenge.



Tippmann Challenge Mirabel offers more then just paintball. The game has helicopters, entertainment, attendance prizes, free lunch, free on site technical support from Tippmann employees, costume contests, speedball exhibitions and more during the event.

To accommodate all 1500 players, Paintball Mirabel joined all of the individual fields together to create one large field. Joining all fields together creates a multifaceted field that requires changing playing styles when moving from area to area in order to be successful.



One of the new fields Mirabel has just completed is a Vietnam War style village. It is not two or three building but an entire village. The area has twenty plus buildings, an open air market, temple with a gong, prisoner holding cages, communications centre, vehicles, storage silo and more.

Big games are more then just playing, they are an opportunity to reacquaint with old friends. The Tipps were excited to play alongside the eternally youthful Mike 'Blue' Hanse and Blue's Crew for the afternoon. It had been seven years since the Tippinators played with Blue and his Crew while attacking the Castle Aaarrg at EMR in 2007.

Tippinator Bruce Johnston was excited to be able to spend time one-on-one with Tippmann Sports Chairman Howard Kosick, PBL Action Sports President Robert Lee and Tippmann VP of International Sales Brent Cunningham.



"To be able to spend hours talking with the heads of the world's leading paintball companies is an incredible experience." said Johnston "I can't think of another sport where a participant can walk up and talk to the people who shape the game world wide. It is humbling"

As the day drew to a close, tents were being taken down, and RV's pulling away; the smiles on player's faces proved Tippmann Challenge Mirabel was an incredible experience for all involved. Once again Hugo Bigras, owner of Paintball Mirabel and his professional staff put together a memorable day of paintball.

The team would like to thank Brent Cunningham from Tippmann, Robert Lee, Mike Silva, and Louie D'Alesio from PBL Action Sports, Hugo Bigras of Paintball Mirabel for their hospitality and for making the Tippinators feel like they were playing their home field.

If you are a player who loves paintball you owe it to yourself to attend a big game. The organized insanity of 1500 players on the field at once is something that must be experienced at least once. Find the nearest Tippmann Challenge, sign up and go experience it for yourself.




..:: Visit the Tippinators Official Website - www.tippinators.com for up to date news and official information about the team. ::..

8.04.2013

ATWL Event Sets Up for Exciting Finish

2013 ATWL Event 2 Sets Up for Exciting Finish
Tippmann X7 Phenom Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League Event 2 played on August 3, 2012 was some of the most exciting woodsball played in the history of the league. Tippmann Sports and BuyPBL invaded Hypersportz Paintball in Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia, to host the best players in the region for the mid point of the 2013 season.

Returning ATWL players were impressed with the field improvements that are continuing at Hyper Sportz. "We are making improvements to the playability of the field for the ATWL." said Field Manager Jim Bent. "We are getting great feedback from the players and will make more improvements for next season."

An ATWL match consists of two, teams of ten players, playing two 20-minute games. The teams play one game, switch start points for the second game, to complete the match. Playing two games from opposite ends of the field eliminates any advantage in the field layout. The teams fight for three capture points spread across the field. Five points are awarded for every minute a capture point is held with a 25 point bonus for holding the center capture point at the end of the game.

The ATWL excitement began with the first game of the day as the sophomore Green Acres Goblins came out of the gate strong. The Goblins used aggressive fire and movement to control the field and wrestle a win away from the Mersey Road Predators by only 10 points.


"The Goblin came together as a team today and showed real signs of improvement." said James Langlois Captain of the Predators. "They (The Goblins) will be contenders if they continue to improve the way they have been."

The improvement of the Goblins was great to see but the story of the day was the play of the surging Strict Union Militia from Moncton New Brunswick. The Militia played nearly flawless paintball and finished the day undefeated.

The incredible play of the Militia dominated the day and propelled the team to first place for the season. A first place regular season finish puts SU in a commanding position heading into the league championship event in September.

The Nova Scotia Mercenaries played consistently strong paintball and finished the day just behind the Militia. "It has been a great day and a season to remember." commented Kevin Whynot Captain of the Mercenaries. "The team is playing well and we have put ourselves in a position to win in it all in the next event."

The depleted Mersey Road Predators played well all day but finish in third place. The looked good on the field but strong play of the Militia bumped the Predators into second position by a single point.


"It was a great day of paintball even though we slipped in the standings. We have a few things to improve on, but we will be ready for the Championship match." said Predators player Dave Rose.

After two events, SU Militia is leading the way with the Predators one Win/Loss point behind. The Mercenaries are in third place only five Capture Points behind SU. The Green Acres Goblins are consistently improving and should not be counted out.

Heading to the championship the teams are evenly matched as every team is a position to win it all. The 2013 TippmannX7 Phenom Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League winner will be decided at Mersey Road Paintball in East River Nova Scotia on September 14th.

Event 2 Results
Place Team W/L Points Capture Points
1 SU Militia 12 945
2 Mercenaries 6 735
3 Predators 6 515
4 GA Goblins 2 270
Season Standings
Place Team W/L Points Capture Points
1 SU Militia 15 1295
2 Predators 14 1020
3 Mercenaries 12 1290
4 GA Goblins 2 345
Championship Match Up - First Round Mersey Road Paintball - September 14th
9:00 SU Militia vs GA Goblins
9:30 Predators vs Mercenaries

..:: Visit the Tippinators Official Website - www.tippinators.com for up to date news and official information about the team. ::..

6.16.2013

ATWL Season Off and Running

2013 ATWL Event 2 Sets Up for Exciting Finish
Tippmann X7 Phenom Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League Event 2 played on August 3, 2012 was some of the most exciting woodsball played in the history of the league. Tippmann Sports and BuyPBL invaded Hypersportz Paintball in Mount Uniacke, Nova Scotia, to host the best players in the region for the mid point of the 2013 season.

Returning ATWL players were impressed with the field improvements that are continuing at Hyper Sportz. "We are making improvements to the playability of the field for the ATWL." said Field Manager Jim Bent. "We are getting great feedback from the players and will make more improvements for next season."


An ATWL match consists of two, teams of ten players, playing two 20-minute games. The teams play one game, switch start points for the second game, to complete the match. Playing two games from opposite ends of the field eliminates any advantage in the field layout. The teams fight for three capture points spread across the field. Five points are awarded for every minute a capture point is held with a 25 point bonus for holding the center capture point at the end of the game.

The ATWL excitement began with the first game of the day as the sophomore Green Acres Goblins came out of the gate strong. The Goblins used aggressive fire and movement to control the field and wrestle a win away from the Mersey Road Predators by only 10 points.


"The Goblin came together as a team today and showed real signs of improvement." said James Langlois Captain of the Predators. "They (The Goblins) will be contenders if they continue to improve the way they have been."

The improvement of the Goblins was great to see but the story of the day was the play of the surging Strict Union Militia from Moncton New Brunswick. The Militia played nearly flawless paintball and finished the day undefeated.

The incredible play of the Militia dominated the day and propelled the team to first place for the season. A first place regular season finish puts SU in a commanding position heading into the league championship event in September.

The Nova Scotia Mercenaries played consistently strong paintball and finished the day just behind the Militia. "It has been a great day and a season to remember." commented Kevin Whynot Captain of the Mercenaries. "The team is playing well and we have put ourselves in a position to win in it all in the next event."

The depleted Mersey Road Predators played well all day but finish in third place. The looked good on the field but strong play of the Militia bumped the Predators into second position by a single point.


"It was a great day of paintball even though we slipped in the standings. We have a few things to improve on, but we will be ready for the Championship match." said Predators player Dave Rose.

After two events, SU Militia is leading the way with the Predators one Win/Loss point behind. The Mercenaries are in third place only five Capture Points behind SU. The Green Acres Goblins are consistently improving and should not be counted out.

Heading to the championship the teams are evenly matched as every team is a position to win it all. The 2013 TippmannX7 Phenom Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League winner will be decided at Mersey Road Paintball in East River Nova Scotia on September 14th.

Event 2 Results
Place Team W/L Points Capture Points
1 SU Militia 12 945
2 Mercenaries 6 735
3 Predators 6 515
4 GA Goblins 2 270
Season Standings
Place Team W/L Points Capture Points
1 SU Militia 15 1295
2 Predators 14 1020
3 Mercenaries 12 1290
4 GA Goblins 2 345
Championship Match Up - First Round Mersey Road Paintball - September 14th
9:00 SU Militia vs GA Goblins
9:30 Predators vs Mercenaries

..:: Visit the Tippinators Official Website - www.tippinators.com for up to date news and official information about the team. ::..

4.13.2013

Black Friday 2013

The unofficial opening event of the 2013 Atlantic Canadian paintball season, Black Friday, was held on Friday March 29th at Mersey Road Paintball in East River Nova Scotia.

Black Friday is unique not only because it draws all styles of paintballers on to the same field but because it is the first large event of the year. Black Friday is the first chance players have to rekindle friendships and bang the rust off the paintball skills.

"The paintball gods are smiling on us today," said James Langlois, owner of Mersey Road Paintball, "A spring storm made the field unplayable a few days ago. But the sun came out, cleared up the snow and made a perfect day for paintball."

The official event registration of 209, and an unofficial head count of close to 300, continues to make Black Friday one of the largest games in Atlantic Canada.

The game ran in two 90 minute halves, immediate respawn, with the teams switching ends at half time. At the half time lunch break, raffle and door prizes (provided by Tippmann Sports), were given out. The immediate respawn made made for non stop action all over the field coupled with prizes for players made the day a success all around.

In many areas paintball participation has been in decline. The exact opposite is true for Atlantic Canada paintball. The increase in players at Black Friday, expansions teams in the Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League (ATWL), and the new Eastern Paintball Players League (EPPL), proves that the game of paintball is stronger than ever.

“It is great to see so many players out today.” commented Ben Van Horne of the Tippinators “With this many talented players out for the first event of the season bodes well for the competition at the ATWL and EPPL this year. It is going to be a great season.

The true attraction of Black Friday is that paintballers be they; woodsballers, recballers or speedballers, can gather for a day of fun before players gravitate back to their preferred style of play.
..:: Visit the Tippinators Official Website - www.tippinators.com for up to date news and official information about the team. ::..

Chris Coolen Takes Over as Head Coach of Tippinators

Coolen to Coach Tippinators
The Tippinators are excited to announce that Chris Coolen has agreed to coach the Tippinators speedball team through the rebuilding process this season.

Coolen is a former CXBL All Star with many years of paintball experience to pass on to a young group of eager players.


"I came to the Tippinators last season because I wanted to return to the real reason I play paintball - to have fun with a good group of guys but maintain a competitive balance." Coolen said.

Coolen has always been friends with Tippinator players and joined the team in 2012. "The Tippinators have always had an outstanding reputation as a first class, professionally organized team whose players are always seen smiling and enjoying the moment. That is what any sport should be about." Coolen remarked of the team. "For me to reach out to the team and ask to play last season was a no brainer."

For an exceptionally talented player, playing at the highest level in the country to hang up his cleats to coach a rebuilding team is a exception to the rule.

"Two years ago I suffered a torn ACL in my right knee," Coolen explained "Although I did play 2011 in the CXBL and 2012 in the MXL the injury has really taken its toll on me and that was a big factor in my decision to coach."

The Tippinators are getting a coach with a proven track record. Coolen coached in the past with the original Hammonds Plains team many of whom went on to become great players.

Of the teams he has coached in the past Coolen said "Seeing positive growth and transformation in the players makes coaching such a great experience. I really just want to pass on my knowledge and experiences so that they can get the most enjoyment out of the sport as possible."

Coolen is eager to get on the field with the Tippinators. "I want to bring out the best in the new Tipp players, identify where existing players can improve."

The goals for the team are simple. "We are going to set our sights high for the season and to be competitive. I want to coach a group of players that are going to take paintball as seriously as any other sport and who have the drive and hunger to be successful." Coolen commented

For Coolen the expression "work hard, play hard" comes to mind when he thinks of moulding a new team. The hard part he knows is in striking the perfect balance between fun and success. Coolen also knows that "If everyone can buy into the same system good things will come."


..:: Visit the Tippinators Official Website - www.tippinators.com for up to date news and official information about the team. ::..