2012 CXBL Season Favourites

Hey guys! Based on the top answers from the talent survey, I have created a ranking system for the CXBL Elite division. Please rank your favourite CXBL athletes in order of strength to help me determine the true favourites overall! The MXL, RXL, and CX4 results are in and I will post them alongside the CXBL Elite results! Thanks for your interest and assistance!

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Introducing Toronto Force: A Force to be Reckoned With

      Many of you have heard rumblings that something exciting has been brewing in the aftermath of NAX. We all know that the Canadian paintball scene is full of talent albeit spread amongst a variety of CXBL teams. Well, not for long! Ron Guy, owner and coach of the new Toronto Force, with help from sponsors has brought together many of the CXBL’s best and is seeking to bring new opportunities to our homegrown talent! In just a few days we will get to bear witness as the faces of Toronto Force take to the D1 field of PSP’s World Cup.

     Ron Guy and two of the proud bearers of the Force jersey have graciously taken the time to answer some of my questions. Read on to learn more about this team and their exciting future.

• Ron, What inspired you to put this team together? How did you choose the players for the roster?

“I have been wanting to delve back into PSP for a couple of years now. With having a team playing in the CXBL, and coming up through the ranks with RXL and MXL, I have listened to countless players talk about wanting to put a "Canadian Team" into the PSP series. Having watched the Elite league this season, I noticed how competitive our CXBL bred players can be against top American Pros and felt now was the time to introduce  players back into PSP on a regular basis but, include all CXBL players and not just Canadian. My hope is that, with consistent performances by individuals, they will get a chance at a fair tryout opportunity with a PSP Pro team. As for choosing players, that was TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH! That has been the most difficult part of the process. There are so many talented players in the CXBL, and all the guys bring intangible assets that pull the team together even if they do not have the stats or the skill set of some of their teammates. I spoke with several guys from the team in the preliminary stages about different characteristics of the player and how it may hinder or help the team. Next I compiled a huge list, in a tiered format and slotted players into where I felt they were on my depth Chart. After that it was a matter of begging, and groveling with them to come play on a team which I had no idea would get off the ground. Our final roster is made up of players who bring the components of what I think a team should possess. I guess we'll find out in a week!"
 

•  What is your vision for Toronto Force? Is this simply a competitive team for PSP World Cup or do you hope to carry this group of players into the coming 2013 PSP season?

“My goal for this team is to provide a stepping stone for players to move into the Pro ranks of PSP and, also a competitive outlet for those who wish to compete at a high level, without the travel associated by Pro practicing in the States. Force plans to run a full D1 schedule next season, provided we can fulfill all the financial obligations required.”
“I have been involved in sport long enough to know the roster for 2013 it will be different. As with any team sport, commitments change, goals are altered, opportunities arise, and sometimes life just gets in the way so, I can safely say, Force will have a different look by the time we get to the first event next season. One of the things I see happening a lot, is teams become stagnant with players that are friends more than teammates, and that stalls the development of the team.”

• Who are the faces of the first ever Toronto Force roster? What positions do they play?

“Our World Cup Team for Toronto Force is made up from players on 5 different teams in CXBL:
Gerry Harris-Matticks from 2012 Richmond Cup Champion, Mont Tremblant Cowboys, Back Middle

Chris Tarquinio- Toronto Rockstar, Doritos
Travis Kropf- Cambridge Raiders, Snake
Jesse Benoit- Windsor Lockdown, Doritos
Dan Szypka- Windsor Lockdown, Doritos, Back Middle, Snake
Ryan Dowling- Windsor Lockdown, Snake
Stefan Herda- Windsor Lockdown, Doritos
Justin Ing- Windsor Lockdown, Doritos
Buddy Baur- Windsor Lockdown, Back Middle
Josh Dempsey- Rochester Rythym, Snake
Tom Guest- Medonte N2 Factor, Snake
Grayden Guy- Medonte N2 Factor, Back Middle”

We originally had Bryan McKenna from Mont Tremblant Cowboys on the roster. He was given an opportunity with Chicago Aftershock, took full advantage of it, and is now heading into his second event with Aftershock. Congratulations Bryan!

I have been in contact with other players from the league, and Force is hoping to work them into our roster in the near future.”

• What do you deem to be your tools for success? What does this team need to do in order to accomplish their goals? What challenges do they face?

“Without question, our greatest asset is experience. We have players that have won Richmond Cups, PSP World Cups, International Tournaments and who have played in every type of paintball event imaginable. That is what I am going to be calling on at this year’s World Cup event. Force players should only need to focus on, primary bunkers, secondary bunkers, closing out, and all things that are instinctual for these guys, as they look at the field. My job is to remove all the distractions that they allow to creep into the game such as missed assignments, calls, opposition, or anything else that forces them to think and question their next shot and move, in essence, just let them play! If they can be prevented from over-analyzing the match, I believe we will be successful.”

• Who are the sponsors that stand behind this team?

“Toronto Force is fortunate enough to be involved with GI Sportz, Louie D'alesio and BuyPBL, RAZA Life, and Chris Tarquinio - who did all the design work for our jerseys and logos. It is amazing the support they have provided, considering 2012 budgets have been used yet they still found the resources and energy to support our program. Without them, we would never have put Toronto Force together in such a short period of time.”

• Are there any plans to make this team into a CXBL team for the 2013 season?

“We have no plans to use this as a CXBL team in 2013. I think it's healthy for players to go back to their individual Elite teams or move around. The guys need space to re-generate goals and take in new ideas and philosophies from other coaches, owners and teammates. I have encouraged all of the guys to play as much as possible regardless of format. I personally, still believe CXBL is the true show of skill and perseverance in speedball.”
 

• Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

“Toronto Force hopes to build an ongoing program, that works with the CXBL, in giving an opportunity for players to excel at a different format. Thank you to GI Sportz, BuyPBL, RAZA Life and Chris Tarquinio for giving this program a chance! Thank you Niki for creating this blog! I believe that those that have been interviewed, have given heartfelt explanations to what has gone on, in their eyes, throughout the CXBL season.”
 

• Jesse and Travis, what (if any) challenges do you as players face as you work to go from competition to teammates? Has the transition been an easy one?

“I think the most challenging obstacle we have had to overcome has already been accomplished; we got the roster we wanted. It's never an easy thing to get players to part from their family to join the creation of a new one. I think in everyone's mind they want to believe that the guys they have played with over the years are going to be the ones that they'll go all the way with. Unfortunately that's not always the case and it becomes a ‘best player for the job’ type of scenario. If we ever want to be professionals, we have to act like it. You don't see professional sports teams being given the option to pick their team and have their buddy's because that's who they have the most fun with, are closest with, etc. We all agreed to put everything aside and take the best player for the job, regardless of what team they came from. The mutual respect we all have for each other is second to none, and we all hit it off very well this past weekend in NY, at our first ever practice as a full unit. Take that and the great leadership and experience of our coach and owner (Ron Guy), you have one scary, well-oiled machine. Speaking of having ‘the right guy for the job,’ Ron is that guy when it comes to the Coaching aspect. We all have 100% faith that he's the guy that will take us where we want to be.” – Jesse Benoit

“There are certainly challenges that come with creating a team like this. You see it in pro teams as well like Dynasty and Imfamous where they have amazing players but it takes a while to learn how to win. One of the biggest challenges we have is buying into the same system of how we train and how we play on the field. The skill level on this team is amazing and everyone on the roster knows how to win and be a great player. The challenge is doing it as a team and not as individuals. So far the transition has been an easy one. We have a great coach and leader who keeps us focused and lets us players worry about playing and that’s it. Almost all of us have played with each other for a year or 2 at various times along the way so we have a good idea for how we each work and think. After a 2 day practice in New York last weekend it feels like we have been teammates for a long time so it’s a good feeling!”- Travis Kropf

• What was your thought process when the idea of this team was first presented to you? What made you want to be a part of this venture?

“When Ron approached me about the idea,  I was immediately interested. I always wanted to have an all-star team made up of the best CXBL players, and that was exactly what he was striving to accomplish. I believe I am a very good judge of character and I knew right away that he wasn't the type of person to ‘blow smoke’ so to speak. We all believed in him and the idea off the bat, and that's why it all came together. There was no way I was going to miss being a part of something so big. The talent in the CXBL is incredible (I'm speaking about the local talent) and it would be a shame to have never put that to the test. Not a single person on the team wanted to take the easy road. We want a chance to put our local scene on the map and compete at the highest level possible. Each and every player on this team is a competitor and we all share one common trait; the love for winning. Whether we come 1st or last, I know deep down that I won't regret anything, because I'm going down this road with 12 other guys that want it as bad as I do.” – Benoit

“This is something I have wanted for many years and I instantly jumped at the opportunity. The chance to train with and play with some of the best players in the CXBL is something we have been wanting to do for years. We did it in the past with Shockwave and had great results. Now it’s our time to do it in division 1.”-Kropf

• What else would you like people to know about Toronto Force?

“Toronto Force is a team that will be around for years to come. World Cup is the start of that journey. We want to take this team to the top and earn a pro spot in the future. We will always field the best available roster and represent our scene to the fullest. When I was coming up it was rare to have a local team competing at a high level. I think this will open a lot of doors for everyone and give the local scene a much needed kick. We want and need the support of everyone. As much as we are there to represent ourselves, we're there to represent all of you too! Wish us luck and we'll keep you all updated as the Cup adventure continues. The morning after we arrive in Florida we have a practice with the Pirates. They won a D1 event this season so it will be a good test. Thanks to everyone that made this happen. Ron, Bryan Mckenna, GI Sports, PBL, Flag Raiders, and all of the players that came together to make this a reality, and of course to you Niki for the interview!” -Benoit

“I think everyone should know that this team is built for the long haul. We won’t be a one hit wonder. This team has been built for a long term run to make this the next Pro team. The dedication of the players and the amazing support from the coaching staff and sponsors will prove to be an amazing asset as we work hard to represent Canada and the CXBL.”-Kropf

Well gentlemen, I believe that the roster you have put together is built for success! I wish you all of the best at World Cup and I trust that you will represent Canadian paintball incredibly well and prove that the CXBL-bred players are a “force” to be reckoned with! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and to share with us about your newest endeavour! I look forward to hearing about your experiences at cup! 

Signing off, 

The Paintball Wife

Reflections on NAX

     As always, I’ll begin my rambling by offering my gratitude to the CXBL and BuyPBL crew who always do an amazing job preparing for and running the Canadian events. If it weren’t for all of you, many players would be lacking in the opportunities necessary to grow and develop in the world of speedball. While xball remains a mystery to the majority of society, for the many players and spectators, this game is life and thus you fine people provide the needed nourishment for their paint-war hungry souls. 

          Thanks also to the Commando Paintball owners and staff who welcomed us all to their fine facility. It is easy to see that you put your best into maintaining the fields and keeping the grounds tidy and that certainly makes an event more enjoyable for all. 

          You may have noticed that I didn’t write any predictions for NAX. This was for good reason. After event 3 I felt that there had been so many upsets and surprises that this championship could truly belong to anyone. That being said, with the exception of the MXL division, the majority of the competitors in the finals came as no surprise to me. 

Elite Division

Most exciting game to watch – Let’s not play around, the final match between Tremblant Cowboys and Vancouver Thunder was easily the most exciting match. 

 Vancouver's Nate Schroeder and Tremblant's Bryan McKenna

Photo Credit: Sheldon Carless

          I’d be surprised if anyone didn’t believe that it would be these two teams fighting for the title this year. Both teams are filled to the brim with professional talent: Tremblant with their line-up of Houston Heat players (PSP) and Vancouver built mainly of self-made Vancouver Vendetta players (NPPL). One could only expect some fancy paint-battles with these two powerhouses on the field. 

 Cowboys' Nick Slowiak and Thunder's Mason Hwu

Photo Credit: Sheldon Carless

          I’m going to go out on a limb here and be completely honest. I wanted Vancouver to win this match. These guys play some of the smoothest paintball that I have ever seen. They typically play very strategic, basic paintball. When I say basic, I am referring to their well-planned reliance on the fundamentals of xball. This team hits their bunkers off the breakout, fills key bunkers immediately when a player is compromised, and typically makes educated bumps at the appropriate times. At past events, they have been known to play on smarts not on emotion. And, they have done all of this while being short on players and with very little pit and sideline support. 

          With all that said, Tremblant is also a very strong, smart team who know when it pays to be aggressive. When these players decide to move, they MOVE! Whether it is Chad George in the snake, John Woodley at the X, or Bryan McKenna or Chad Bouchez moving down the Dorito side of the field, they move with intention and they don’t stop until they have achieved what they set out to do. On top of their essential skills on the field, this team has an incredible support and coaching staff who help them to be as successful as possible. 

 Thunder

Photo Credit: BuyPBL

 Cowboys

Photo Credit: Sheldon Carless

          As one might expect, the first half of this match was built of some slow points as these two well-matched teams worked to figure out one another’s tendencies.  Vancouver came out on top with a score of 4-1 as the teams switched ends and headed into the second half. Although Vancouver made many bold plays throughout the second half, with Mason Hwu flying down the centre of the field to the X nearly every point, they also suffered a handful of minor penalties which proved costly. Cowboys’ aggressive moves allowed them to bring in a whopping 7 points throughout the second half of the match. Thunder fought back with all they had, seeking to get in a couple of quick points but got into more penalty trouble as time ran down on the clock. Between the two teams, there were 3 points scored in the last minute of the match with two of them going to Vancouver. This left Cowboys with an 8-7 win over team Thunder.

Most surprising game – Undecided

I have replayed all of the matches in my head a thousand times and I still can’t decide which one was the most surprising. I truly expected Medonte and Raiders to be more successful and once again Drummondville showed strength that seemed to be lacking in the beginning of the 2012 season. Also, while I expected Vancouver Thunder to enjoy a victory over Windsor Lockdown, I was surprised by the significant point spread in that match. 

 Medonte's Brandon Arnold, Tom Guest, and Grayden Guy

Photo Credit: Sheldon Carless

Raider's Ed Evans

Photo Credit: Sheldon Carless

Lockdown's Billy Bernacchia 

Photo Credit: The Catshack Reports

Drummondville's Sacha Dupont-Hebert

        I truly believe that the NAX championships this year were host to the best paintball teams in CXBL history. The weekend proved a feast for my paintball-loving eyes. I also enjoy the spectator involvement that becomes common place at NAX each year. When you feel the shared emotion and excitement with your fellow spectators on the sidelines, the frequent overshooting and occasional temper tantrums on the field become so much more entertaining.

        My congratulations to all NAX competitors! You can’t all win rings but if I had gold stars, there would be one for each of you!

       

Signing off,

The Paintball Wife

Post-season Interview #7 - Mirabel Impact

      This interviewee was first introduced to paintball through a friend’s birthday party at Commando Paintball in Ottawa. It wasn’t long before he bought his own gear and started playing woodsball. At that point, Alistair Macdonell met the owner’s children who had a CX4 franchise called Orleans Fishtiks and began to practice with the team. When they purchased an RXL franchise in 2009, Alistair had the chance to help fill the roster by joining the team.  He moved through the divisions rather quickly as Fishstiks merged with the Montreal based MXL team called Cowboy Kids for the 2010 season. 

        Cowboy Kids had a great season, tying for first place but losing out on medals based on plus/minus. Luckily for Macdonell, his team was able to swap their MXL franchise with Mirabel Impact who had lost much of their core group and were seeking to have a season to rebuild in at the MXL level. After a hard fought season in the CXBL, Alistair and his teammates finished the season just short of making NAX. Financial woes forced the team to disband following the 2011 season leaving Macdonell seeking a new team. 

        Having been in contact with Shawn Monk, the coach of Mirabel Impact, Alistair was graciously offered a spot on the 2012 Impact squad. Mirabel had redeemed themselves winning the 2011 MXL season earning once again a CXBL position. Together with his Impact teammates, while not earning a chance at NAX, Macdonell proved that he deserved a CXBL spot by finishing the 2012 season ahead of Toronto Rockstar and Scarborough Hustle. 

        Prior to this season, Alistair had always been a snake player. When the team came together for the 2012 season, he was moved over to the Dorito side of the field which he describes as a, “hard learning curve having not much experience on that side of the field.” That being said, he learned to like enjoy his new position. Macdonell plans to continue the Xball grind and has plans to seek out a CXBL team to join should Mirabel choose not to come back. He also hopes to play a few PSP events in the 2013 season. Like many of you, he has a passion for the sport that keeps him coming back for more!

 Photo Credit: Sheldon Carless

• What is your general impression of the 2012 Elite standings? Were there any major surprises or did the season finish as expected?

“I was very pleasantly surprised with how Daytona finished in the standings.  I had them pegged to finish 1 spot above/below us but they played with a lot of heart and deserved everything they got.”

• What do you feel was your team’s greatest strength this season?

“I give our coaching staff a lot of props. More often than not the team that gets relegated is the team that is the most disorganized in the pit. Our coach Shawn Monk did a great job of keeping everyone’s egos in check and keeping us ready for the next point.  I think it made the difference in the games we won this year.”

• Impact was one of few teams this season who did not have “help” from PSP or NPPL professional or division 1 competitors. What was it like to play against those athletes with only your local players? Do you feel that playing with and against such players will elevate the skills of Canadian paintball players such as yourself?

“I always enjoy playing against Pros. It’s a great learning experience.  I do however think the league could benefit from limiting the number of Pros per team for future years as It will let teams with less funding compete on a more level playing field.”

• What are you able to take away from the 2012 season that will allow you to develop as a player and as a team throughout the off-season?

“This was the first year I've ever played almost exclusively the Dorito side of the field, so just adding that into my repertoire will be huge when moving forward. As a team this year has been a huge learning experience for a bunch of our players, many of whom now have a full season of CXBL under their belts which will make a big difference next year.”

• This was Impact’s first season (with this roster anyway) as CXBL competitors, having won the Eastern MXL division in the 2011 season. While you won’t be competing at NAX this year, you finished the season ahead of Toronto Rockstar and Scarborough Hustle. Are you pleased with how your team played this season? What are your goals for the 2013 season? 

“At the beginning of this season I think we all expected to make NAX as I would think any team coming into the CXBL would.  Unfortunately, we lost a few key players before the first event due to personal reasons and I think those losses really hurt us.  Nevertheless we had some guys really step it up to fill those gaps in our roster and I think going into next season Impact will be a force to be reckoned with.”

• What was your highlight of the season?

“I’m going to go with our game against Hustle at border battle. It was the first time my parents had ever seen me play and up until then as far as they were concerned paintball was just something that made me quit hockey (big no-no in my house). I think that actually being there at the event and breathing in the atmosphere that the border battle brings really helped them understand what it’s all about.”

• Some had Impact pegged as one of the teams to face potential relegation in the 2012 season. Your team successfully managed wins over Toronto Rockstar and Scarborough Hustle meaning that your CXBL Elite position was safe. Did you and your teammates feel a lot of pressure to prove that you deserved a spot in the CXBL Elite or were you confident from the beginning?  

“I don't think relegation ever crossed anyone’s mind on our team.  We knew we would be the underdogs for the majority of our matches, but that lack of expectation was a big weight lifted off our shoulders.  Sometimes not having that pressure to win every point can really relax your game and make good things happen on the field.”

• Which individual on your own team do you most respect as a player and why?

“I am going to say Marc-Andre Caron. He's possibly the most skilled player I've ever played with. Once he learns to speak English I predict he will be unstoppable!”

• If you had to choose a team most likely to win NAX, who would you choose and why?

“I have to say I think Tremblant will take it this year, but since it’s no fun to just pick the favourite, I’m going to say Cambridge will do much better at NAX than the season standings reflected.  They dropped the ball hard at the last event but I think they'll pull it together for the finals.”

• Is there anything else you would like to add?

“I would like to thank all the guys on my team, our coach Shawn Monk, and our main sponsor Hugo Bigras and the Impact pro shop for making this season possible.  Also shout out to all my brothers on Scrub Life for taking home first in Eastern MXL event 3!”


Alistair, Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions! You are a Canadian inspiration, having moved through the ranks so rapidly and I think you have many seasons of solid xball remaining in your paintball career if you continue to allow your love for the sport to direct you. You have my best wishes for the 2013 season – no matter whom you play for! 

Signing off,
The Paintball Wife