Pre-Season Interview #10 - Drummondville Daytona

This interviewee has been living the paintball dream – travelling and playing paintball in many different leagues all over the world. Julien Croteau-Pothier has been playing paintball for seven very busy years! He began his paintball journey 7 years ago with his brother, Alexandre at Skorpion Paintball. The brothers played once a week on member day and worked weekends in order to do so. After a couple of months, they had the opportunity to try out for Montreal NRG owned by Will Sinka. Croteau-Pothier played with NRG for one year and he says, “I learned everything about paintball with this team.” A year later, he played his first NPPL event with NRG in Huntington Beach. Playing on the beach with his friends, Julien realized that his dreams were coming true and he says, “All the sacrifice was paid off”.

Croteau-Pothier describes his days with NRG as “old memories, since I’ve realized my dreams to travel the world to play the most prestigious tournament on the planet.” He’s referring to the incredible Millenium Series in Europe which he has had the opportunity to partake in. Julien also ventured to Thailand in March of this year for the first leg of PALS with Shockwave Canada where they placed first in division 1. He has had experience in almost every paintball league and series around -- even to the point of holding a win in PSP and an NPPL championship in division 2 which he captured with 3CT.

While, Croteau-Pothier certainly takes every opportunity to play international series, he is no stranger to the CXBL. We can look forward to seeing him fight alongside his brother for Drummondville Daytona in the 2012 CXBL Elite where I am sure his experience will serve him well. Daytona is a young team but are planning to put their youthful energy to good use in the 2012 season. You can keep an eye out for Julien on the spectator side of the field as he is known to be a snake player and says, “it’s gonna be my home for the summer!” Like many others at the CXBL level have said, Julien agrees that because of paintball, he has met many amazing people and built some incredible friendships. He says, “Paintball is not only a sport…it’s a lifestyle,” and that is certainly something that I would support! 

 Photo Credit: Unknown (Let me know if you recognize it)

Julien – It has been great to hear about your paintball journey. It’s been an amazing road so far and I wish you all the best with your new team in the CXBL Elite this year! 

  Photo Credit: Philippe Biha-Mazs Photography

• What have you been doing as a team during the off-season to prepare for the 2012 CXBL season

“We practice, on the field and off the field. Daytona is a new young team so we have to be ready as a team on and off the field.”

• What have you been doing as an individual to prepare for the coming season?

“Practice and Practice, I also played with Shockwave Canada in Thailand for the 2012 PALS”

• What do you feel is your team’s greatest strength headed into this season?

“We are young and fast.”

• Which team do you feel will be your greatest competition this season and why?

“I think it’s going to be Tremblant. I know these players and they have a lot of experience and gun skills. It’s going to be a longgggg and emotional game. It’s always hard to play against friends.”

• Which team do you feel will be the weakest this season and why?

“Impact, I love these guys but I think they don’t have as much of experience as the other teams and it’s going to cost a lot”

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

“TOM! The owner, everybody knows Tom for is big heart and for is implication with the team... on and off the field Tom is always thinking about Daytona and how he can upgrade the team.”

• Were there any changes this off-season that surprised you? For example, roster changes or league changes.

“CXBL changes every year in a good way.  I believe in Louis and his decisions and I think this year with all the teams in the same bracket it's going to be awesome.”

Thanks again Julien! Hopefully we didn’t lose too much in translation! All the best to you and your Daytona teammates in the season ahead! 

 

Signing off,

The Paintball Wife