Maple Leaf Chiefs
Maple Leaf Chiefs is a Canadian-listed tournament paintball team that has competed in American professional and amateur tournaments since at least 2013. The team has participated in the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP), National Xball League (NXL) and International Classic Paintball League (ICPL).[1][2]
The team won the 2024 NXL Amateur 10v10 season championship and the 2022 ICPL Windy City Classic amateur ten-player division.[2][3]
Although registered under a Canadian identity, Maple Leaf Chiefs has fielded players from American professional and divisional teams, particularly during its participation in mechanical ten-player competition.[4][5]
History
[edit]Early tournament competition
[edit]Maple Leaf Chiefs competed in American tournament paintball during 2013.
A photograph taken by Allen J. Schaben for the Los Angeles Times documents a Maple Leaf Chiefs player competing against Raw Material at the NPPL Huntington Beach tournament on 12 April 2013.[1]
The team's tournament records also document participation in the 2013 PSP West Coast Open and 2013 Paintball World Cup.
At the West Coast Open, Maple Leaf Chiefs finished 23rd of 33 teams in Division 3 X-Ball. The team subsequently placed 13th of 17 in Division 3 at the World Cup.[2]
The team's precise founding date and original roster have not been independently established.
Return to major tournament competition
[edit]The Maple Leaf Chiefs name subsequently appeared in NXL ten-player competition.
At the 2021 Paintball World Cup, the team finished second among 24 entries in the Amateur 10v10 division.[2]
In 2022, Maple Leaf Chiefs entered the International Classic Paintball League (ICPL), competing in mechanical ten-player tournaments.
The team made its ICPL debut at the Sunshine Classic in January 2022, finishing ninth in the amateur division.[4]
A contemporary ICPL preview published on 8 April 2022 identified a roster combining current and former professional players from Sacramento DMG with divisional X-Ball competitors.
The article specifically identified brothers Dylan Boyum and Jordan Boyum as prominent members of the team.[4]
2022 ICPL Windy City Classic
[edit]Maple Leaf Chiefs won the amateur ten-player division at the 2022 ICPL Windy City Classic, held at Badlandz in Crete, Illinois, from 29 September to 2 October.
The tournament attracted 38 amateur ten-player teams, with Maple Leaf Chiefs receiving 200 championship points for first place.[3][6]
The victory contributed to the team's sixth-place finish in the 2022 ICPL amateur season standings, with 302.38 ranking points.[3]
ICPL professional competition
[edit]In 2023, Maple Leaf Chiefs entered the ICPL professional division.
A preview published by NXL Classic Paintball on 31 January 2023 described the Chiefs as a new professional franchise for that season.
The professional roster was built around players from the KC Missouri All Stars NXL team, with Todd Boyer identified as a prominent player.[5]
The team subsequently participated in ICPL professional competition, including the Sunshine Classic, Pro DNA Open, Golden State Classic and Windy City Classic.[2]
At the 2023 Golden State Classic, Maple Leaf Chiefs finished first in a three-team professional division.[2]
The organisation also continued competing in NXL amateur ten-player tournaments, finishing third of 26 teams at the 2023 World Cup.[2]
2024 NXL championship
[edit]Maple Leaf Chiefs won the 2024 NXL Amateur 10v10 season championship.
The team competed in three NXL major events, recording the following results:[7]
- Lone Star Major: Second place, 96 championship points.
- Mid-Atlantic Major: First place, 100 championship points.
- World Cup: Second place, 192 championship points.
Maple Leaf Chiefs finished the season with 388 ranking points, ahead of second-placed Chicago Aftershock, which recorded 360 points.[7]
The championship represented the team's first documented NXL season title.
The organisation also competed in ICPL professional competition during 2024, including the Texas Classic and Lone Star Open.[2]
Additional teams
[edit]The organisation has also entered tournaments under the name Maple Leaf Chiefs II.
The second squad appeared in ICPL amateur ten-player competition, including the 2023 Windy City Classic and 2024 Texas Classic.[8]
The precise relationship between the two rosters and their organisational structure has not been independently established.
Notable players
[edit]Contemporary reporting and tournament records identify several players associated with Maple Leaf Chiefs during different periods:
- Dylan Boyum – Identified in the 2022 ICPL amateur roster preview.
- Jordan Boyum – Identified alongside his brother Dylan in the 2022 ICPL preview.
- Todd Boyer – Featured in the team's 2023 ICPL professional roster.
- Thomas Hara – Played ten-player paintball with Maple Leaf Chiefs following an introduction to the team during the 2023 NXL season.[4][5][9]
The list does not represent a complete roster for any single tournament or season.
Selected tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | PSP West Coast Open | Division 3 X-Ball | 23rd of 33 |
| 2013 | PSP World Cup | Division 3 | 13th of 17 |
| 2021 | NXL World Cup | Amateur 10v10 | 2nd of 24 |
| 2022 | ICPL Windy City Classic | Amateur 10v10 | 1st of 38 |
| 2022 | NXL World Cup | Amateur 10v10 | 8th of 31 |
| 2023 | ICPL Golden State Classic | Professional 10v10 | 1st of 3 |
| 2023 | NXL World Cup | Amateur 10v10 | 3rd of 26 |
| 2024 | NXL Lone Star Major | Amateur 10v10 | 2nd of 12 |
| 2024 | NXL Mid-Atlantic Major | Amateur 10v10 | 1st of 18 |
| 2024 | NXL World Cup | Amateur 10v10 | 2nd of 32 |
| 2024 | NXL season championship | Amateur 10v10 | 1st overall |
Results are based on official PBLeagues tournament and season records.[2][3][7]
See also
[edit]- International Classic Paintball League
- National Xball League
- National Professional Paintball League
- Paintball Sports Promotions
- Chicago Aftershock
References
[edit]- Allen J. Schaben, Los Angeles Times, photograph of Maple Leaf Chiefs competing at the NPPL Huntington Beach tournament, 12 April 2013, distributed by Getty Images.
- PBLeagues, "Maple Leaf Chiefs", historical team tournament records, 2013–2024.
- PBLeagues, "2022 Season Rankings: International Classic Paintball League", official event results and season standings.
- NXL Classic Paintball, "10-Man Teams Fight for Gold at the ICPL Golden State Classic: Event Preview", 8 April 2022.
- NXL Classic Paintball, "The Competitive Paintball Season Kicks Off in Florida at the '23 ICPL Sunshine Classic!", 31 January 2023.
- PBLeagues, "ICPL Windy City Classic", 29 September–2 October 2022, tournament registration and division information.
- PBLeagues, "2024 Season Rankings: National XBall League", official Amateur 10v10 championship standings.
- PBLeagues, "2024 Season Rankings: International Classic Paintball League", including Maple Leaf Chiefs and Maple Leaf Chiefs II.
- Brandon Olson, "Weekly Newsletter ft. Thomas Hara of Red Legion", Paintball Dirt, 6 April 2026.