Kuopion Takeoverista lähtöisin oleva Mikko Huttunen tekee paluun jos ei ihan kisakentälle niin ainakin sen laidalle, kun amerikkalaisessa PSP-sarjassa pelaavat Los Angeles Ironmen ja San Jose Royalty yhdistyvät. Yhdistymisen jälkeen Royalty lakkaa käytännössä olemasta, joten voitaisiin kai puhua sen sulautumisesta Ironmeniin. Samalla Mikko liittyy uudistuvan joukkueen valmennustiimiin.

Mikko pelasi ulkomaille siirryttyään moskovalaisessa Russian Legionissa kauden ja siirtyi sen jälkeen Ironmenin riveihin ja DYElle töihin, voittaen mm. kaksi perättäistä World Cupia. Aktiivisemman pelaajauran jälkeen hän on jatkanut työskentelyä DYEllä, ollen mukana mm. DYE Snow-projektissa, jossa yritys laajensi tuotteitaan talviurheiluun.

• www.dyepaintball.com/ironmen joukkueen kotisivut
• Haastattelussa Mikko Huttunen Ironmen Pro Schoolista
• Mikko Huttunen Social Paintballin haastattelussa DYEn laskettelulaseista

Tiedote:

http://www.paintballaccess.com/2014/01/san-jose-royalty-and-the-los-angeles-ironmen-merge-their-rosters/

San Jose Royalty and the Los Angeles Ironmen merge their rosters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
San Diego, California (January 14th 2014)- San Jose Royalty and the Los Angeles Ironmen will merge their rosters for the 2014 PSP season. Royalty will cease to exist as a standalone entity and the best players on the squad will come over to the Ironmen. Members of the two teams are excited about the merger, as it will create a very strong team who will contend for the coveted PSP World Title.

The merger brings paintball legend Shane Pestana back into the Ironmen fold. Pestana has a storied history with the California team, first as a star player during its early years, then as captain during the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and then as the coach from 2004-2008; he guided the team to multiple World Championships during each tenure. Until this merge he had been helping Royalty as a player/coach during their assent through the divisional ranks.

Marcello Margott and Alex Goldman, two of the star players brought on last season for their second stint with the Ironmen, are happy to have the man back who they won their first World Titles with. Margott stated, “I am ecstatic to have Shane Pestana back in the organization. He’s bringing hard working Royalty players who have great attitudes and the same work ethic as us. I think this team will quickly become a family. It’s going to take some time for the chemistry to kick in but when it does I think it will be a truly great Ironmen team. Shane is a leader by nature. He just knows how to get the best out of people so I can’t wait to start working with him again and see what we can accomplish together this time.”

Pestana said, “I’m ready to go, to help the Ironmen get back to where they should be, which is sitting at the top of the Champions Division. We have so many great talents on this team, so many hard working guys. Sure, it may take some time to gel, but the Ironmen will be a winning team again.”

Mikko Huttunen, a long time Ironmen veteran who also won titles with the team, will come on as a part of the coaching staff as well, which augments the Ironmen’s brain trust in its push back toward the podium. The Ironmen finished 5th overall during the 2013 PSP season, and 4th at the PSP World Cup, against one of the most competitive fields ever and this new merger proves they are dedicated to building a winning team again.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dye Paintball / Jake Fristoe.
Email: jfristoe@dyeprecision.com
P. +1 (858) 536-5183 ext 250