Event three of the CXBL Atlantic Division MXL was played August 11, 2012 at Spikes Paintball in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Unlike previous seasons that went down to the wire before a winner was crowned, the 2012 MXL Championship was decided after event two. The game results from event three would have no affect on the final standings, and were being played solely for the love of the game.
The Tippinators Paintball Team entered event three scheduled to play the top three teams in the league; Newfoundland Wreckhouse, Moncton Strict Union and Fredericton Aggression with the knowledge that a victory against any of these top teams would be unlikely.
The first game of the day was against Moncton Strict Union. Both teams knew that the game was going to be played for fun so they agreed to set all markers to semi and play with only one hopper of paint per point.
The Strict Union game turned out to be the most enjoyable game of the entire season for the Tippinators. Even though the scored ended 10-1 in favour of Strict, semi automatic hopperball was a game that both teams will remember as the source of more laughs than any other of the 2012 season.
The team's second game of the day was against the 2012 MXL Champion Fredericton Aggression. For Aggression the game was a formality. They had already celebrated their league win and were thinking ahead to NAX (North American Xtreme Paintball) and the chance to win the Canadian Championship.
Fredericton took the field and did to the Tippinators what they did to every other team throughout the season, they dominated. With nothing on the line the game had a fun and friendly atmosphere, and ended with another Aggression win by a score of 10-2.
For the last game of the MXL season the Tippinators went up against Newfoundland Wreckhouse. The powerful Wreckhouse team was favoured to win the 2012 MXL title but came up short. With the chance of winning league gone the Newfoundland team hit the field with the same attitude as the Tippinators, go out throw paint and have fun for the final 40 minutes of the 2012 xball season.
From the first point to the final horn both the Tipps and Newfs followed their games plans. The teams had fun, shot paint and enjoyed a great day of ball. Wreckhouse once again showed their strength and the depth of talent on the roster by winning the game 11-3.
"We scored one point our first game, two points in our second, and three points in our third.” said Tippinator Chris Coolen with a laugh, "If we had nine or ten more games today we might be able to win one.”
Restructuring of the league prior the 2012 season that brought CXBL Elite teams and players to the Atlantic Division MXL dramatically increased the skill level of teams in the league. The restructuring coupled with a number of Tippinators players not returning to competitive paintball in 2013 means the team will be rebuilding and playing the RXL next season.
The Tippinators had a great season playing MXL in 2012 and would like to thank; Mike Bourque - League Commisioner, Ian Grant - Ultimate Refereee, PBL Action Sports for effort in putting together and running the premier xball league in Canada, Jeff Chernier and his crew for their efforts as referees, and the exceptional support given to the team by Tippmann Sports. It is only with the hard work of many people behind the scenes that a league like the MXL is possible.
