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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Black Friday Breaks Records


The unofficial opening event of the 2011 Atlantic Canadian paintball season, Black Friday, was held on Friday April 22 at Mersey Road Paintball in East River Nova Scotia.

Along with the Tippinators, individual players from throughout Atlantic Canada, plus established teams Anthraxx (current ATWL champions), Iron Legion, Mersey Road Predators, Nova Scotia Mercenaries, Halifax Mercenaries, North Port Warriors, Halifax City United and TACSat Paintball were also out for opening day



The official event registration of 378, and an unofficial head count of 436, makes Black Friday 2011 the largest game in the event’s 10 year history. 
"It has been an incredible day," said James Langlois, owner of Mersey Road Paintball, "I have seen players today that haven’t been out in years."

Black Friday is unique because it draws all styles of paintballers on to the same field. It is unique not because of the kind of game, 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.

"I woke up this morning and my lawn was covered with tents. It looked like a mini Woodstock.” Langlois commented with a laugh.


Players weren’t the only people with tents at the event. Procaps recently became the official sponsor of Mersey Road Paintball. The Procaps crew was at the field in force, promoting the full Procaps line including DraXxuS Paint and VForce Masks.

“Having representatives from DXS set up to tech markers was a nice touch”, said Bruce Johnston of the Tippinators, “When you travel to big games in central Canada and the US you always see manufactures tents set up. Having DXS on site shows that Black Friday has officially gone to the next level.” Johnston concluded.

The game ran in two 90 minute halves, immediate respawn, with the teams switching ends at half time. The non stop game made for non stop action all over the field.

“There were a few intense battles out there today.” said Justin Landry of the Tippinators, “For me the fun of the battles was secondary to seeing all the guys again. It was great fun playing woodsball with the team.”

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, two team expansions of both the Atlantic Tactical Woodsball League (ATWL), and Minor Xtreme Paintball League (MXL), proves that paintball is stronger than ever.

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