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

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. ::..

---

2012 ATWL Championship

Exciting Finish to ATWL Season



The 2012 woodsball season in Eastern Canada came to an exciting conclusion with the crowning of the Tippmann X7 Phenom - Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League Champion.

The final battle for woodsball supremacy was played on October 13, 2012 at the official field of the ATWL, Mersey Road Paintball in East River Nova Scotia.


The four top woodsball teams in Atlantic Canada gathered to battle for the ATWL Cup, and bragging rights as the Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League Champion.

Teams advanced from the first playoff round to event four and a battle for the championship represented fields from across the region; Mersey Road Predators from Mersey Road Paintball, Nova Scotia Mercenaries from Splatter Island Paintball, Team Anthraxx from Hypersportz Paintball, and the Strict Union Militia from Mission Paintball.

The day started with Anthraxx going up against the SU Militia. All season both teams played an aggressive style of paintball so the first match up was expected to be a high scoring affair.

An ATWL match consists of the teams playing two 20 minute games. The teams play, switch start points for the second game to eliminate any advantage in the field layout. Teams fight for three capture points. 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 Anthraxx and SU Militia match lived up to expectations. The teams gave their all and each won a game. Anthraxx came out on top of a 310 to 245 capture point score and advanced to play for the championship with the SU Militia battling for third.

The next match of the day was the regular season winners Predators against the Mercenaries. The outcome of this match would to decide who would play Anthraxx for the Championship. The match was a closely fought affair with the Mercenaries winning both games by a slim margin.

The afternoon matches were set, Predators against the SU Militia for third place and Anthraxx would play the Mercenaries for the Championship.

The Predators returned to their regular season form in the afternoon match winning both games to capture third place.

Anthraxx continued their aggressive play, won both games against the Mercenaries to be crowned the Tippmann X7 Phenom - Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League Champions.

“We had a tough season this year but the boys pulled it together when it counted.” said Eric Vail, Captain of Anthraxx. “They fought hard and pulled out the second ATWL Championship in three years. I am really proud of my team.”

“As the season draws to an exciting close the league would like to thank Tippmann Sports and PBL Action Sports for making 2012 the best in the history of the league.” said League Commissioner Bruce Johnston. “We are looking forward to even bigger and better things for the woodsballers of Atlantic Canada in 2013.”