Riley Sullivan from Paintball team XSV

Rumors circulated that pro paintball team XSV has been considering a color change for 2012. After using the colors black and gold for five consecutive years, Sacramento XSV will be moving to a neon green and black color scheme.

Earlier this morning, XSV pro player uploaded a copy of the revamped logo on twitter. The logo continues to use the same font, nautical star, and shield that has become an icon to many in the paintball community.

New paintball gear logo for XSV

ProPaintball insiders rumor that this change was suggested by team sponsor JT Paintball to better support the companies new line of paintball equipment and color ways. Could the neon green and black colors be an indicator of the future of JT Paintball? Only time will tell.

Sacramento XSV is setting the stage for another successful year in the pro paintball circuit. The team recently picked up Jason and Corey Bornstein from Oakland BLAST. The Hebrew Hammers as they are known, previously played with Ballistic and XSV Influence in divisional paintball. Later they worked there way up  into the semi professional world and played with the OC Bushwackers, San Diego Aftermath and Newport Entourage. The two are known to feast on the field and will be solid additions to the team.

Pro paintball players Jason and Corey Bornstein

Also in the news, Patrick Slattery is said to be returning to the team. Pat played with XSV from 2008-2010 and then joined San Francisco Explicit in 2011.

The question remains as to whether or not the team will be competing in one or both of the pro paintball leagues in 2012. Prior to the merger rumors, XSV’s Junior Brown mentioned a sincere interest in playing the PSP in conjunction with the NPPL in 2012. Team owner Rich Telford has been known to been a devout 7-man supporter. However, with the NPPL format adopting more of an Xball structure, who knows where the team will end up.

What format would you like to see XSV play in 2012?

In round two of our 2011/2012 Pro Paintball Off Season report, we feature the latest news from pro teams Sacramento XSV, Top Gun Union and LA Infamous.

Pro Paintball player Zack Wake on the move

Todd Martinez, Coach of LA Infamous, broke the news this week that Zack Wake, snake player for Infamous, had left the team. According to sources there are a handful of teams looking to pick him up. Pro Paintball insiders named local Tennessee pro team CEP, as well as Tampa Bay Damage and Dynasty as possibilities for 2012.

Ryan Martin of Pro Paintball team Sacramento XSV

Insiders say that Ryan Martin has left both Top Gun Union, whom he played PSP with, and Sacramento XSV, who he played NPPL with. Initially it was thought Ryan was leaving Top Gun to compete with Sacramento XSV in the PSP pro division. However, recent intel suggests he has left the XSV ranks as well. Leaving both teams frees Martin up to play either or both NPPL and PSP in 2012. Pro Paintball insiders point to Ironmen, Infamous, or Dynasty (all Southern California pro teams) as possibilities for 2012.

Where do you think these players will end up? Which teams could best utilize their talents?

Bryan Bortol from paintball team Omaha VICIOUS, Photo Credit: SkipsPics.com

The PSP World Cup is set to begin in less than 7 days. Are you and your paintball team ready to compete? Read on for the latest paintball news and gossip regarding several top teams as they prepare for the 2011 PSP World Cup Championship.

According to ProPaintball insiders, Billy Wing of the LA Ironmen is rumored to be retiring from competitive paintball after the 2011 PSP World Cup. He has played professional paintball for the last 14 years. The LA Ironmen were his one and only pro team. Wing is a very dedicated Ironmen player and long time employee at DYE Precision and we can only imagine his departure will have a major impact. Want to know more? Check out ProPaintball’s interview with Billy Wing.

Chad “Ya-Ya” Bouchez (former Aftershock) was rumored to be playing with Omaha Vicious. ProPaintball insiders suggest that there was a conflict in the deal and it wasn’t completed in time for the event. Bummer.

Marcello Margott tore his meniscus and had torn cartilage. Marcello underwent a micro fracture surgery which requires him to stay off the injury for about 6 weeks (no weight bearing). Unfortunately he will be sitting out PSP World Cup. Marcello has to go through physical therapy and should return prior to the start of the 2012 season.

Thomas Taylor from Sacramento XSV is playing with LIFT.

Division 1 team Assault surprised everyone by pulling out of PSP World Cup. Team owner TeddyG has been responding to questions in the ProPaintball Smackbox over the last 24 hours. In short, the team was just not ready to compete and Teddy did not feel comfortable fielding an unprepared squad.

Darryl Trent is preparing to unveil the DLX Luxe 2.0 paintball gun at PSP World Cup. Here is a sneak peak of the new paintball gun from DLX.

DSSP8NTBALL.com is bringing back their divisional feeder team for 2012. Stay tuned for tryout information.

Guerrilla Air is giving away free paintballs. The odds that you win are 1 in 200.

Portland Uprising is rumored to have picked up 2 local players for their 2011 PSP World Cup debut. ProPaintball insiders suggest the team is trying to get their feet wet, learn the format and figure out what they need to fix in anticipation of the 2012 paintball season. Good luck Uprising!

Pro Paintball fans have been inquiring as to what Cole Scott is doing for PSP World Cup. In case your wondering, Cole Scott plays with Portland Uprising in NPPL 7-man and Impact in the PSP. ProPaintball caught up with Cole who mentioned that prior to the 2011 season begining, he signed up to play with Edmonton Impact in PSP and Portland Uprising in NPPL 7-man. Cole will be playing with Edmonton Impact at Cup but mentioned he and a few of the guys are going to try and help coach the new Uprising team through the first event. Talk about camaraderie!

What else have you heard? Share your paintball news and rumors in the comments below.

Rumors have been flying that Aaron Tholey (interview) has joined 7-man pro paintball team Sacramento XSV. ProPaintball has been able to confirm that Tholey is back with XSV. Here are a few words from Tholey discussing the move.

I am very excited to be back with Sacramento XSV. Rich Telford, Thomas Taylor and Junior Brown have really done a great job with this crew. Rich and Thomas are the only guys who I have learned anything from in a long time. Both in paintball and life. They are guru’s. I’m also stoked to be playing with Riley Sullivan and Jerry D’Amato again as well as meet the new dudes. It is only a matter of time before you will be seeing us on that podium against Dynasty, just like old times.

I wish all of my friends on Mutiny the best of luck.

This development reinforces the rumor that Sacramento XSV is planning on joining the PSP pro division in 2012. You may recall that Tholey has been a familiar face on the roster of Sacramento XSV and a core element of the XSV Xball squad. Rumors continue to circulate that JT and Empire Paintball are very happy with the teams progress in both promoting paintball and their development as a team. Further rumors indicate that XSV is in discussions with 2 additional big name paintball players for the 2012 season with the goal of building a team to rival Dynasty. Tholey went on to mention as much in his statement.

Sacramento XSV had a strong showing at the NPPL 2011 Surf City Open in which they battled against Dynasty for first and second place. Are we witnessing the rebirth of Sacramento XSV?

Photo Credit: Grind Magazine

We’ve just received word that Sport Chalet, JT Paintball and Sacramento XSV have teamed up to host a free paintball demonstration at the Huntington Beach location this week. This is a great opportunity to introduce your friends and family to paintball and or check out the new paintball gear from JT. This event is taking place this Sunday, May 15th, between 12pm to 5pm in Huntington Beach, CA. The address to Sport Chalet (event location) is; 16242 Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 and you can reach the store at (714) 848-0988.

Meet XSV at the Sport Chalet in Huntington Beach, CA May 15th. Try out the latest JT Paintball gear in the shooting booth, take pictures with the pro’s Rich Telford and Junior Brown! Or just go see them and have a chat about Paintball.

This event will be a great opportunity to pick up your free paintball rookie pass. Be sure to follow Sacramento XSV on their road trip via the XSV Facebook page.

ProPaintball and Sacramento XSV are proud to unveil the new XSV paintball jersey for 2011. During 2011 the team will be competing on the NPPL pro paintball circuit and will represent sponsors JT Paintball, Empire Paintball, Extreme Paintball Shop, Understood Paintball, BallersCafe and several others. For more information on Sacramento XSV, please visit XSVPaintball.com and Facebook.com/XSVPaintball.

A few weeks back we received two cellphone photos of Sacramento XSV field testing the new Empire AXE paintball gun. The photos were captured by a local player/ ProPaintball community member, and featured pro player Eddie Tamao loading and playing with the marker. ProPaintball sent a few questions to XSV inquiring about the photographs and a potential gun change for the 2011 season but no response was provided. Fast forward to today– a report surfaced on BallersCafe that Empire Paintball has officially signed pro paintball team Sacramento XSV to shoot the Empire AXE for the 2011 paintball season.

Via BallersCafe;

“The team has been very impressed with the performance of the gun,” said Rich Telford of Sacramento XSV. “I remember a time when a great, pro-level marker needed to be out of this world expensive! Times have changed and in the twenty-first century, a paintball gun can be both affordable and ready for competition – and Empire Axe is it.”

Thomas Taylor of XSV said,

“The AXE is light, fast, accurate and compact…all the things I need in a paintball gun! For anyone who plays as aggressive and up the field as I do, the new Empire Axe is the perfect choice! I can’t wait to hit the snake with my Axe in 2011!”

Read the full story at BallersCafe here: Sacramento XSV to shoot Empire AXE Marker in 2011. Interested in the AXE? Check out the Empire Paintball website for more information.

This weeks pro paintball rumor report features the latest paintball news and gossip from San Antonio X Factor, San Diego Dynasty, Edmonton Impact, Newport Entourage and Sacramento XSV.

• Dynasty tells their players they won’t be flying people in. Archie Montemayor, Billy Bernacchia, Chad George, and Devin Odell are rumored to no longer be playing with the team.

• Archie Montemayor and Devin Odell are rumored to be reuniting with their friends and former teammates on San Antonio X-Factor. Between Dixon Yang, Grayson Goff, Dusty Odell, Devin Odell, Archie Montemayor, Ryan Cohen and Cody Bayless, X-Factor will once again be a top contender in 2011.

• Chad George will be joining former teammates Ryan Moorhead and Tim Montressor from the Philadelphia All Americans.

• Johnny Thompson is rumored to be retiring from professional paintball. Johnny competed with pro paintball team Edmonton Impact. Sources indicate his departure opened the door for Chad to join the team.

• Pro Paintball insiders indicate that pro team Newport Entourage will not be competing in the 2011 pro paintball season. Several of the players are said to be looking for a team.

• Ryan Martin of Newport Entourage is rumored to have signed with Sacramento XSV.

• Sacramento XSV is rumored to be signing with Empire Paintball to shoot the new Empire AXE . Sources indicate a Sacramento XSV private label AXE is in the works. In case you missed it, be sure to check ProPaintball’s review of the Empire AXE.

Thomas Taylor and pro paintball team Sacramento XSV were spotted testing the Empire AXE this weekend at Extreme Paintball Park in Norcal. ProPaintball reader “anon” snuck a few cell phone pics.

Will the team be switching from the Alien Independence to the Empire AXE for 2011?

PRO Paintball Team Rumors, Part 2

PRO Paintball teams across the country are working on deals for the 2011 season. Read on as we share the latest paintball news & gossip surrounding Sacramento XSV and the Philadelphia All Americans.

Sacramento XSV

PRO Paintball insiders report that Shawn Walker (of NPPL and RPL fame) is in negotiations with Rich Telford. Word is Shawn & DGX paintball would like to buy an ownership position in Sacramento XSV. Rich Telford would continue to Captain and field the pro team and all final team-oriented decision making would remain with him. Sources suggest Shawn is interested in leveraging the Sacramento XSV brand to draw outside sponsors into paintball to support his league and XSV. DGX Paintball is Planet Eclipse West Coast Service Center. DGX’s involvement signifies that a deal with Planet Eclipse is a possibility for the 2011 season. Shawn Walker runs the RPL paintball league and has partnered with Sacramento XSV to reff his events and provide clinics for players. We expect that with Shawn involved in ownership and potentially funding the team that the players would continue to work with his RPL paintball series.

Sacramento XSV skipped PSP World Cup due to lack of funds. The team has indicated that they will be competing in one of the two pro paintball series in the 2011 season but as of writing no decision has been reached. In Monday’s NPPL Rumor report, we mentioned that the RPL would be a feeder series to the NPPL. Based on the above information, our guess is that XSV will be competing in the NPPL in 2010.

Pittsburg All Americans

Adam and Billy Gardner were spotted at PSP World Cup making their rounds and talking to several big players in the paintball industry. According to sources, the Gardners are interested in bringing back the Pittsburg All Americans. After the Smart Parts bankruptcy the Gardners went off the radar, presumably to focus on rebuilding their paintball business. World Cup 2010 saw the re-introduction of the Luxe paintball gun with several improvements. Long time All American player Darryl Trent has been a major player behind the scenes at DLX. He has been hard at work developing a Luxe 2.0 and another DLX marker and we anticipate that he will be very much involved should a revival of the All Americans come to fruition.

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Stay tuned for part 3 of our PRO Paintball Rumor Report as we share the latest rumors and news surrounding Chicago Aftershock, San Diego Dynasty, Tampa Bay Damage, San Antonio X-Factor and many more.