WikiPaintball - User contributions [en]

Brimstone Smoke

2026-10-28T17:02:33Z

Deaz 44: /* 2021 amateur championship */

{{Short description|American professional tournament paintball team established in 2001}}

'''Brimstone Smoke''', also known as '''Team Smoke''', is an American tournament [[paintball]] team associated with the Ohio and West Virginia region. Established in 2001, the team has competed nationally in five-player, seven-player and 10-player tournament formats, including events organised by the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL), [[Paintball Sports Promotions]] (PSP) and [[International Classic Paintball League]] (ICPL).[1][2]

Brimstone Smoke won the amateur five-player division at the 2002 [[International Amateur Open]] and subsequently competed in professional X-Ball and 10-man tournaments. Following a return to classic-format competition, the team won the 2021 ICPL amateur 10-man series championship and consecutive professional 10-man Classic Cup titles in 2025 and 2026.[3][19][21][22]

In 2026, Brimstone Smoke finished second in the ICPL professional 10-man season standings, six points behind [[Chicago Aftershock]].[22]

== History ==

=== Formation and early competition (2001) ===

According to its official history, Brimstone Smoke began in 2001 as a five-player team before joining forces with Team Centerflag to compete in national 10-man tournaments.[1]

Contemporary [[WARPIG]] reporting from the 2001 International Amateur Open described Brimstone Smoke combining its established five-player squad with players from New York to enter the 10-man competition.

The combined team finished fourth in the amateur 10-man division.[2]

Brimstone Smoke was closely associated with Milt Call, an early owner of the team and the Ultimate Air Ball inflatable bunker business.

Call was also involved in organising the Ultimate Madness tournament in Huntington, West Virginia.[5]

=== National tournament success (2002) ===

Brimstone Smoke recorded several significant results during the 2002 season.

At the PSP Las Vegas Open, the team finished second in the amateur five-player division behind ECX Factory.[6]

In August, Brimstone Smoke won the amateur five-player championship at the Diablo International Amateur Open, defeating Tippmann Effect, Boston Paintball Factory Team and Team Bam in the final round.

The team competed using Spyder paintball markers and received the tournament's Kingman-sponsored prize.[3]

Later that month, Brimstone Smoke finished second in the amateur five-player division at the NPPL Atlantic City Open.[7]

At the Aruba Pro/Am in September, the organisation entered two amateur squads, Brimstone Smoke This and Brimstone Smoke That.

Brimstone Smoke This won the amateur division, finishing three points ahead of Bushwackers in the round-robin standings.[8]

=== Professional competition (2003–2005) ===

Brimstone Smoke entered higher-level tournament competition during 2003.

At the PSP Los Angeles Open in March, the team competed in Division One X-Ball, finishing third behind Strange and Jax Worriors.[9]

At the PSP Chicago Open in June, Brimstone Smoke won the Pro-Am 10-man division, finishing ahead of Cartel, Nasty and Fusion.[10]

The team subsequently finished third in the Pro-Am 10-man division at the 2003 PSP World Cup.[11]

Brimstone Smoke continued competing in national tournaments during 2004 and 2005, including the PSP and NPPL circuits.

Its official history records appearances at the 2004 Chicago Open and 2005 Denver Open.[1]

=== Ultimate Madness and Ultimate Air Ball ===

The team maintained a close relationship with Ultimate Air Ball, the inflatable bunker manufacturer associated with team owner Milt Call.

Members of Brimstone Smoke helped officiate at Ultimate Madness, an indoor three-player tournament promoted by Call and Paul Bollenbach.

At the 2003 Ultimate Madness, the team participated in an exhibition of Arena Ball, a short-format competition using enclosed playing fields, music and spectator participation.[12]

Brimstone Smoke again appeared in an exhibition Arena Ball match during the 2004 tournament, dividing its players into Brimstone This and Brimstone That squads.[13]

=== Return to classic paintball and management changes (2017–2020) ===

Brimstone Smoke returned to national classic-format tournament competition during the late 2010s.

According to information supplied directly by the team to WikiPaintball in October 2026, Danny Manning and Anthony Call invited Paul DeZarn to become the team's coach and manager in 2017.[18]

The team identified DeZarn's appointment as an important development in its return to national competition.

Official tournament records document the team's participation in the Southern Open 10-man Classic in December 2017 and the Iron City Classic in August 2018.[4]

The team subsequently competed under the Team Smoke name in the International Classic Paintball League.

At the 2019 ICPL Florida Open, Team Smoke finished second in the amateur 10-man division.[4]

DeZarn continued in a team management role and was subsequently registered as a member of the team's tournament staff and coaching personnel.[24][25]

=== 2021 amateur championship ===

The 2021 season marked an important competitive achievement in Brimstone Smoke's return to classic tournament paintball.

Competing as Team Smoke, the organisation finished second at the ICPL Old Bay Classic before winning the amateur 10-man division at the Windy City Classic in Chicago.

The team finished first in the 2021 ICPL amateur 10-man season standings with 196.4 ranking points, ahead of ThunderHorse on 179.5 points.[19]

The Windy City Classic victory secured both the event championship and the overall amateur season title.

The ICPL had identified the 2021 amateur championship as providing an opportunity for promotion to the professional division in 2022.[20]

Team Smoke subsequently competed in the ICPL professional 10-man division.

At the 2022 Sunshine Classic, the team finished second in the professional division to Aftershock beating Kapp Factory in the finals.[4]

=== Continued classic competition (2023–2024) ===

Brimstone Smoke continued participating in ICPL professional tournaments during 2023 and 2024.

The team's official tournament records document professional 10-man participation under the Team Smoke name.[4]

At the 2024 NXL World Cup in Florida, the team entered both classic 10-man and seven-player competition.

Its own tournament report documented a third-place finish in the 10-man event.[14]

=== Consecutive Classic Cup championships (2025–2026) ===

Brimstone Smoke achieved consecutive professional 10-man championships at the ICPL Classic Cup in 2025 and 2026.

At the 2025 Classic Cup, held from 3 to 5 October at Thunder Valley Paintball Park in Seffner, Florida, Team Smoke won the professional 10-man division ahead of Image and Chicago Aftershock.[15][29]

The victory came after the team finished the preliminary round with seven wins from eight games.

The team finished fourth in the overall 2025 ICPL professional 10-man standings with 265 ranking points.[21]

Brimstone Smoke returned to the Classic Cup on 16–18 October 2026 at Outdoor Xtreme Chesapeake City in Maryland.

The team again won the professional 10-man division, finishing ahead of Chicago Aftershock and the All Americans in the official event rankings.[23][30]

The victory represented the team's second consecutive ICPL Classic Cup professional championship.

In the overall 2026 ICPL professional 10-man standings, Brimstone Smoke finished second with 286 ranking points.

Chicago Aftershock won the season championship with 292 points, finishing six points ahead of Brimstone Smoke. The All Americans also recorded 286 points but were placed third in the official standings.[22]

The season rankings counted each team's three highest-scoring tournament results.

Brimstone Smoke's counted results were:

* Windy City Classic – 4th place, 90 points.
* Pittsburgh Open Classic – 2nd place, 96 points.
* Classic Cup – 1st place, 100 points.

The team's fifth-place finish at the Golden State Classic was excluded under the league's three-result scoring system.[22]

== Ownership and management ==

Brimstone Smoke has been associated with several owners and team managers during its history.

Milt Call was involved in the team's early development and its relationship with Ultimate Air Ball.[5]

Anthony Call was subsequently involved in the organisation's ownership and management. The team's official player profiles identify him as one of its original owners.[31]

According to a statement supplied directly by the team to WikiPaintball in October 2026, Anthony Call recruited Paul DeZarn as coach and manager in 2017.

The same statement identified '''Paul DeZarn as the team's current active owner''' as of October 2026.[18]

DeZarn's coaching involvement is independently documented in official PBLeagues registrations, including the 2025 Classic Cup and 2026 Windy City Classic.[24][25]

== Notable players and personnel ==

Players and personnel documented in contemporary reports, tournament records and the team's own history include:

* '''Milt Call''' – Early team owner and paintball industry entrepreneur associated with Ultimate Air Ball and Ultimate Madness.
* '''Anthony Call''' – Original co-owner, player and team organiser.
* '''Jonathon Call''' – Original co-owner, player who won the one-on-one competition at the 2003 Mardi Gras Open.
* '''Paul DeZarn''' – Coach and manager from 2017, and active owner as reported by the team in October 2026.
* '''Danny Manning''' – Player associated with the team's later professional classic competition, including its 2025 Classic Cup campaign.

* '''[[Rocky Cagnoni]]''' – Professional player associated with the team's early national tournament period.
* '''Ronnie Simpkins''' – Former professional player whose Brimstone Smoke participation is documented in ICPL competition.
* '''Matthew (Matt) Askren''' – Player registered with Team Smoke in professional ICPL competition.
* '''Colton Doll''' – Player on the team's 2026 ICPL Windy City Classic roster.
* '''Aidan Chasman''' – Player on the team's 2026 ICPL Windy City Classic roster.
* '''Carl Markowski''' – Player documented on Team Smoke's ICPL professional roster.
* '''Mark (Marky) Ireland''' – Former Miami Rage professional player identified with Team Smoke during its 2021 amateur championship campaign.

Danny Manning and Ronnie Simpkins were identified among Team Smoke's players in contemporary coverage of the 2025 Classic Cup.[28]

Official tournament rosters separately document Askren, Doll, Chasman, Markowski, Simpkins and DeZarn.[24][25][26]

The ICPL's 2021 Windy City Classic preview identified Mark Ireland as part of the team's amateur championship roster.[27]

The individuals listed represent selected historical associations rather than a complete roster for any particular season.

== Selected tournament results ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Competition
! Division
! Result
|-
| 2001
| International Amateur Open
| Amateur 10-man
| 4th
|-
| 2002
| PSP Las Vegas Open
| Amateur 5-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2002
| International Amateur Open
| Amateur 5-man
| 1st
|-
| 2002
| NPPL Atlantic City Open
| Amateur 5-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2002
| Aruba Pro/Am
| Amateur
| 1st (Smoke This)
|-
| 2003
| PSP Los Angeles Open
| Division One X-Ball
| 3rd
|-
| 2003
| PSP Chicago Open
| Pro-Am 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2003
| PSP World Cup
| Pro-Am 10-man
| 3rd
|-
| 2021
| ICPL Windy City Classic
| Amateur 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2021
| ICPL season championship
| Amateur 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2022
| ICPL Sunshine Classic
| Professional 10-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2024
| NXL World Cup
| Classic 10-man
| 3rd
|-
| 2025
| ICPL Classic Cup
| Professional 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2025
| ICPL season standings
| Professional 10-man
| 4th
|-
| 2026
| ICPL Pittsburgh Open Classic
| Professional 10-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2026
| ICPL Classic Cup
| Professional 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2026
| ICPL season standings
| Professional 10-man
| 2nd
|}

The table lists selected documented results rather than the team's complete tournament history.

== See also ==

* [[International Amateur Open]]
* [[National Professional Paintball League]]
* [[Paintball Sports Promotions]]
* [[International Classic Paintball League]]
* [[Chicago Aftershock]]
* [[Rocky Cagnoni]]

== References ==

# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/about-us/ Team Smoke Paintball – About Us]. Official team history.
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/zapam/2001/index.shtml WARPIG – 2001 International Amateur Open].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/iao/2002/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 Diablo International Amateur Open].
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/f0maAnH7QYqbW03v PBLeagues – Brimstone Smoke]. Historical tournament results.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/mardigras/2003/index.shtml WARPIG – 2003 Mardi Gras Open]. 20–23 February 2003.
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2002/vegas/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 PSP Las Vegas Open].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/atlantic_city/5pre.shtml WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Atlantic City Open].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/aruba/2002/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 Aruba Pro/Am].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2003/la/index.shtml WARPIG – 2003 PSP Los Angeles Open].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2003/chicago/10pre.shtml WARPIG – 2003 PSP Chicago Open 10-Man Results].
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/f0maAnH7QYqbW03v PBLeagues – Brimstone Smoke Historical Results].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/ultimate_madness/2003/index.shtml WARPIG – Ultimate Madness III].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/ultimate_madness/2004/index.shtml WARPIG – Ultimate Madness IV].
# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/blog/category/paintball/ Team Smoke Paintball – World Cup 2024]. Official team tournament report.
# [https://paintballdirt.substack.com/p/weekly-newsletter-team-smoke-wins Paintball Dirt – Team Smoke Wins ICPL Classic Cup]. Brandon Olson, 6 October 2025.
# [https://paintballdirt.substack.com/p/weekly-newsletter-icpl-pittsburgh Paintball Dirt – ICPL Pittsburgh Open Classic Results]. Brandon Olson, 3 August 2026.
# [https://paintballnerd.com/blogs/interviews/fun-five-interview-with-rocky-cagnoni Paintball Nerd – Fun Five Interview with Rocky Cagnoni]. 23 December 2022.
# Team Smoke, direct Instagram correspondence with WikiPaintball, 21 October 2026. Unpublished primary-source statement concerning Paul DeZarn's appointment and ownership.
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2021 PBLeagues – 2021 ICPL Season Rankings]. Official amateur 10-man championship standings.
# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/battle-at-the-badlandz-the-2021-icpl-windy-city-classic ICPL – Battle at the Badlandz: The 2021 ICPL Windy City Classic]. Quinn Nadu, 27 September 2021.
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2025 PBLeagues – 2025 ICPL Season Rankings].
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2026 PBLeagues – 2026 ICPL Season Rankings].
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/9450/rankings PBLeagues – 2026 ICPL Classic Cup Official Rankings]. 16–18 October 2026.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/NYy8yp6qExuuWHxV PBLeagues – Team Smoke, 2025 Classic Cup Roster]. Identifies Paul DeZarn as coach.
# [https://mlpb.pbleagues.com/team/roster/mGfqL1wk6Q7oVfbb PBLeagues – Brimstone Smoke, 2026 Windy City Classic Roster]. Documents DeZarn, Doll, Chasman and Simpkins.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/5JQhvDTh0bTQZhbl PBLeagues – Team Smoke, Windy City Classic Roster]. Documents Carl Markowski.
# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/battle-at-the-badlandz-the-2021-icpl-windy-city-classic ICPL – 2021 Windy City Classic Preview]. Identifies Mark Ireland among Team Smoke's players.
# [https://viewer.joomag.com/paintball-media-magazine-november-2025/0549794001762349016/p35 Paintball Media Magazine – 2025 ICPL Classic Cup Coverage]. November 2025, p. 35. Identifies Danny Manning and other Team Smoke players.
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/8994/info PBLeagues – 2025 ICPL Classic Cup Event Information]. Official dates and venue.
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/9450/info PBLeagues – 2026 ICPL Classic Cup Event Information]. Official dates and venue.
# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/blog/portfolio-category/player-profiles/ Team Smoke Paintball – Player Profiles]. Official information on Anthony Call, Paul DeZarn and individual players.

== External links ==

* [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/ Team Smoke Paintball official website]
* [https://pbleagues.com/team/f0maAnH7QYqbW03v Brimstone Smoke tournament history at PBLeagues]
* [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2026 2026 ICPL professional season standings]

[[Category:American paintball teams]]
[[Category:Professional paintball teams]]

Category:Paintball people

2026-10-28T14:52:10Z

Deaz 44:

Paul DeZarn: More Than Four Decades in Paintball

From the Backwoods of Springboro to Championship Paintball

Paul DeZarn began playing paintball in 1983 on a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, when the sport was still in its infancy. Long before modern professional leagues, standardized player classifications, and ranking systems, Paul was part of the generation that helped shape competitive paintball.

His journey began with the Dyehards, a team competing in a league associated with the Dayton All-Stars. That early chapter included participation in one of the sport’s first world championships, held in Morrow, Ohio.

What started with a group of players competing on local fields became a lifelong commitment to the sport. Over the next four decades, Paul would experience paintball from nearly every perspective: player, professional competitor, coach, manager, and team owner.

The Playing Years: Building a Legacy on the Field

Throughout his playing career, Paul competed with a succession of teams that carried him through different eras of competitive paintball.

His playing journey included the Dyehards, Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain (OBR), the last professional team for which he played.

One important chapter began when Paul and Eric Hamre left Detroit Fusion to create Method. The two went on to achieve considerable competitive success together.

Following that chapter, Paul returned to Freak Factory. He later returned to Detroit Fusion as a professional player. Eric Hamre and several of the Freak Factory players joined Detroit Fusion the following season.

These years unfolded during a very different era of paintball. Paul competed before the APPA player classification and ranking systems became established features of the sport. His professional career developed during a time when reputations were built through competition, performance, and results on the field rather than the formal ranking structures familiar to later generations.

After his professional career ended with Ohio Black Rain, Paul continued to guest-play on occasion. Although he had stepped away from full-time professional competition, his involvement in paintball was far from over.

His next chapter would take him from the playing field to the sidelines, where he could apply decades of experience to developing other players and building competitive teams.

From Player to Coach: Vintage and the MSXL

Paul continued his involvement in competitive paintball by coaching a team called Vintage in the MSXL.

His playing experience, understanding of competitive strategy, and familiarity with the demands of tournament paintball provided a foundation for this next stage of his career.

Coaching offered Paul a different opportunity to influence the game. Instead of relying on his own performance alone, he could help develop players, establish team systems, build confidence, and bring people together around a common objective.

That experience helped set the stage for his return to a larger leadership role in the sport.

The Return: Danny Manning and Brimstone Smoke

Around 2017–2018, Danny Manning approached Paul about returning to paintball to coach and manage Brimstone Smoke.

That opportunity marked the beginning of a new era in Paul’s career.

Returning not simply as a player but as a coach, manager, and organizational leader, Paul brought decades of competitive experience to the program. His mission extended beyond winning individual tournaments. He wanted to develop players, build roster depth, establish accountability, and create an organization capable of competing for championships year after year.

Since 2018, Paul has helped lead Brimstone Smoke through numerous tournament victories and championship performances across multiple divisions and formats.

The journey has required more than tactical knowledge. It has demanded leadership, adaptability, player development, and the ability to maintain a competitive culture through adversity, roster changes, and the pressures of tournament competition.

Brimstone Smoke: Building a Championship Organization

Under Paul’s leadership, Brimstone Smoke has developed into a competitive program participating across the ICPL and NXL, with players competing in multiple formats and divisions.

Among the organization’s significant accomplishments are:

* 2025 Classic Cup Champions
* 2026 Classic Cup Champions, securing back-to-back titles
* 2026 Free Flow Open Champions in New York
* 2026 ICPL Pro Division: Second place overall
* Continued competition across three-, five-, seven-, and ten-player formats, with opportunities to pursue additional tournament victories and series championships

The 2026 season demonstrated the program’s ability to compete against established teams and perform under pressure. Winning the Free Flow Open and successfully defending the Classic Cup title added further milestones to the organization’s history.

Finishing second place overall in the 2026 ICPL Pro Division was another significant accomplishment, reflecting the program’s ability to compete at the highest level of ICPL competition.

The 2026 Classic Cup Championship was especially meaningful. Winning consecutive titles reflected the work required to sustain a competitive program and return to the field prepared to defend a championship.

These accomplishments belong to the entire organization: the players, coaches, staff, ownership, sponsors, families, and supporters who contribute to its success.

Paul’s role is to help bring those elements together. His focus is on creating an environment where talent can develop, teammates can trust one another, and individual ability becomes collective performance.

For Paul, building a championship organization means developing more than a starting lineup. It means creating depth, preparing people for different roles, and establishing a culture capable of enduring the challenges of a long season.

Ownership, Partnership, and Family

Paul remains actively involved in Brimstone Smoke as an owner alongside Anthony Call and Jonathan Call. Milt Call also remains part of the organization’s ownership legacy. Though Milt has passed away, his place in the team’s story is remembered with respect.

Brimstone Smoke has become more than a collection of players assembled for tournaments. It is an organization built around relationships, shared responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence.

Its guiding principles include Communication, Commitment, Connection, and Confidence.

Those principles reflect Paul’s broader approach to competitive paintball. Success requires players to communicate effectively, commit to the work, connect as teammates, and develop the confidence to perform when the pressure is greatest.

For Paul, success is not measured solely by trophies and championship rings. It is also measured by the players who develop within the program, the relationships formed along the way, and the culture established through shared adversity and achievement.

The objective is to build something that lasts: an organization capable of developing talent, competing at a high level, and creating opportunities for players to contribute to something larger than themselves.

The Next Chapter: NXL World Cup 2026

Following the 2026 Classic Cup Championship, Brimstone Smoke is preparing for the NXL World Cup, with plans to compete in the three-, five-, seven-, and ten-player formats.

The organization is also pursuing opportunities to contend for additional tournament victories and series championships.

World Cup represents another opportunity to demonstrate the depth, preparation, and competitiveness that the program has worked to build.

For Paul, this is not the beginning of a new relationship with paintball. It is the continuation of a journey that began in 1983 and has evolved through every major stage of his life in the sport.

The equipment has changed. The fields have changed. The leagues and competitive structures have changed. But the fundamental challenge remains the same: bring talented people together, prepare them to compete, and give them the opportunity to achieve something extraordinary as a team.

A Career That Continues to Evolve

Paul DeZarn’s paintball career spans more than four decades, beginning on a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, and progressing through the Dyehards, Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain.

He competed during the formative years of the sport, played professionally, continued participating after his professional career, coached Vintage in the MSXL, and eventually returned to help lead Brimstone Smoke.

His journey illustrates the many ways a person can contribute to a sport over a lifetime. A player can become a coach. A coach can become an organizational leader. And a leader can continue building championship teams long after his own professional playing days have ended.

Today, Paul remains actively involved in competitive paintball as an owner, coach, and leader of Brimstone Smoke. His experience connects the early days of the sport to its modern competitive landscape.

More than 40 years after he first picked up a paintball marker, Paul DeZarn is still helping develop players, build teams, and pursue championships.

His story is not simply about the years he spent playing paintball. It is about a lifetime devoted to the sport, the people who have shared that journey, and the championship legacy he continues to build.

Category:Paintball people

2026-10-28T14:47:03Z

Deaz 44: Paul DeZarn

Paul DeZarn: A Paintball Career Spanning More Than Four Decades

From the Backwoods of Springboro to Championship Paintball

Paul DeZarn began playing paintball in 1983 on a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, when the sport was still in its infancy. Long before modern professional leagues, standardized player classifications, and ranking systems, Paul was already part of the generation helping shape competitive paintball.

His journey began with the Diehards, a team competing in a league associated with the Dayton All-Stars. That early chapter included participation in one of the sport’s first world championships, held in Morrow, Ohio.

What started as a group of players competing on local fields would become a lifelong commitment to the sport.

The Playing Years: Building a Legacy on the Field

Throughout his playing career, Paul competed with a succession of teams that helped define his journey through the evolution of competitive paintball.

His career included the Diehards, Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain (OBR), the last professional team for which he played.

During one important chapter, Paul and Eric Comrie left Detroit Fusion and formed Method. The team went on to achieve considerable success. Paul subsequently returned to Freak Factory before eventually returning to Detroit Fusion as a professional player. Eric and several of the Freak Factory players joined Detroit Fusion the following season.

These years took place during a very different era of paintball. Paul competed before the APPA classification and ranking systems became established features of the sport. His playing career was built during a time when reputations were earned through competition, performance, and results on the field.

After his professional career concluded, Paul continued to guest-play on occasion. Although his days as a full-time professional player were behind him, his involvement in paintball was far from over.

He was preparing for a different kind of challenge: building successful teams from the sidelines.

From Player to Coach: Vintage and the MSXL

Paul continued his involvement in competitive paintball as a coach, working with a team called Vintage in the MSXL.

That experience helped establish the foundation for his next major chapter. His knowledge of the game, competitive experience, and understanding of what it takes to build a successful team made him a valuable resource beyond his playing ability.

Then Danny Manning approached him about returning to paintball to coach and manage Brimstone Smoke.

Around 2017–2018, that opportunity marked the beginning of a new era in Paul’s career.

Brimstone Smoke: Building a Championship Organization

When Paul returned to a leadership role with Brimstone Smoke, he brought decades of competitive experience and a deep understanding of the sport. His mission extended beyond winning individual tournaments. It was about developing players, building roster depth, establishing accountability, and creating a program capable of competing for championships year after year.

Since 2018, Paul has helped lead Brimstone Smoke through numerous tournament victories and championship performances across multiple divisions and formats.

The program has grown into a competitive organization with opportunities for players at different levels, competing in both the ICPL and NXL.

Among the team’s major accomplishments are:

* 2025 Classic Cup Champions
* 2026 Classic Cup Champions, securing back-to-back titles
* 2026 Free Flow Open Champions in New York
* 2026 ICPL Pro Division: Third place overall
* Continued competition across multiple formats, with further opportunities to contend for event victories and series championships

These accomplishments reflect the collective work of the players, staff, ownership, and everyone who has contributed to the program.

Paul’s role has been to help create the environment in which that success becomes possible: developing talent, building confidence, establishing communication, and ensuring that the team understands what it takes to compete at a championship level.

Ownership, Partnership, and Family

Paul remains actively involved in Brimstone Smoke as an owner alongside Anthony Call and Jonathan Call. Milt Call also remains part of the organization’s ownership legacy. Though Milt has passed away, his place in the team’s history is remembered with respect.

Brimstone Smoke has become more than a tournament team. It is an organization built around relationships, shared responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence.

The principles behind the program are reflected in its values: Communication, Commitment, Connection, and Confidence.

For Paul, success is not simply measured by trophies or championship rings. It is also measured by the players who develop under the program, the relationships formed along the way, and the culture established through shared adversity and achievement.

The Next Chapter: NXL World Cup 2026

Following the 2026 Classic Cup Championship, Brimstone Smoke is preparing for the NXL World Cup, where the organization plans to compete in the three-, five-, seven-, and ten-player formats.

With opportunities to contend for additional tournament victories and series championships, World Cup represents another chance for the organization to demonstrate the depth and competitiveness it has worked to build.

For Paul, it is another chapter in a career that began more than four decades ago.

A Career That Continues to Evolve

From a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, in 1983, to the professional ranks with teams including Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain, Paul DeZarn has experienced paintball through multiple generations of the sport.

He has competed as a player, coached teams in the MSXL, and helped build Brimstone Smoke into a championship organization.

His career reflects more than longevity. It reflects the ability to adapt, take on new challenges, develop others, and continue contributing to the sport long after his own professional playing days ended.

More than 40 years after he first picked up a paintball marker, Paul DeZarn remains an active competitor in the broader world of paintball through his leadership, coaching, and ownership of Brimstone Smoke.

His story is not simply about the years he spent playing the game. It is about a lifetime devoted to the sport — and the championships, relationships, and legacy he continues to build.

Brimstone Smoke

2026-10-28T14:32:40Z

Deaz 44: /* Return to classic paintball and management changes (2017–2020) */

{{Short description|American professional tournament paintball team established in 2001}}

'''Brimstone Smoke''', also known as '''Team Smoke''', is an American tournament [[paintball]] team associated with the Ohio and West Virginia region. Established in 2001, the team has competed nationally in five-player, seven-player and 10-player tournament formats, including events organised by the [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL), [[Paintball Sports Promotions]] (PSP) and [[International Classic Paintball League]] (ICPL).[1][2]

Brimstone Smoke won the amateur five-player division at the 2002 [[International Amateur Open]] and subsequently competed in professional X-Ball and 10-man tournaments. Following a return to classic-format competition, the team won the 2021 ICPL amateur 10-man series championship and consecutive professional 10-man Classic Cup titles in 2025 and 2026.[3][19][21][22]

In 2026, Brimstone Smoke finished second in the ICPL professional 10-man season standings, six points behind [[Chicago Aftershock]].[22]

== History ==

=== Formation and early competition (2001) ===

According to its official history, Brimstone Smoke began in 2001 as a five-player team before joining forces with Team Centerflag to compete in national 10-man tournaments.[1]

Contemporary [[WARPIG]] reporting from the 2001 International Amateur Open described Brimstone Smoke combining its established five-player squad with players from New York to enter the 10-man competition.

The combined team finished fourth in the amateur 10-man division.[2]

Brimstone Smoke was closely associated with Milt Call, an early owner of the team and the Ultimate Air Ball inflatable bunker business.

Call was also involved in organising the Ultimate Madness tournament in Huntington, West Virginia.[5]

=== National tournament success (2002) ===

Brimstone Smoke recorded several significant results during the 2002 season.

At the PSP Las Vegas Open, the team finished second in the amateur five-player division behind ECX Factory.[6]

In August, Brimstone Smoke won the amateur five-player championship at the Diablo International Amateur Open, defeating Tippmann Effect, Boston Paintball Factory Team and Team Bam in the final round.

The team competed using Spyder paintball markers and received the tournament's Kingman-sponsored prize.[3]

Later that month, Brimstone Smoke finished second in the amateur five-player division at the NPPL Atlantic City Open.[7]

At the Aruba Pro/Am in September, the organisation entered two amateur squads, Brimstone Smoke This and Brimstone Smoke That.

Brimstone Smoke This won the amateur division, finishing three points ahead of Bushwackers in the round-robin standings.[8]

=== Professional competition (2003–2005) ===

Brimstone Smoke entered higher-level tournament competition during 2003.

At the PSP Los Angeles Open in March, the team competed in Division One X-Ball, finishing third behind Strange and Jax Worriors.[9]

At the PSP Chicago Open in June, Brimstone Smoke won the Pro-Am 10-man division, finishing ahead of Cartel, Nasty and Fusion.[10]

The team subsequently finished third in the Pro-Am 10-man division at the 2003 PSP World Cup.[11]

Brimstone Smoke continued competing in national tournaments during 2004 and 2005, including the PSP and NPPL circuits.

Its official history records appearances at the 2004 Chicago Open and 2005 Denver Open.[1]

=== Ultimate Madness and Ultimate Air Ball ===

The team maintained a close relationship with Ultimate Air Ball, the inflatable bunker manufacturer associated with team owner Milt Call.

Members of Brimstone Smoke helped officiate at Ultimate Madness, an indoor three-player tournament promoted by Call and Paul Bollenbach.

At the 2003 Ultimate Madness, the team participated in an exhibition of Arena Ball, a short-format competition using enclosed playing fields, music and spectator participation.[12]

Brimstone Smoke again appeared in an exhibition Arena Ball match during the 2004 tournament, dividing its players into Brimstone This and Brimstone That squads.[13]

=== Return to classic paintball and management changes (2017–2020) ===

Brimstone Smoke returned to national classic-format tournament competition during the late 2010s.

According to information supplied directly by the team to WikiPaintball in October 2026, Danny Manning and Anthony Call invited Paul DeZarn to become the team's coach and manager in 2017.[18]

The team identified DeZarn's appointment as an important development in its return to national competition.

Official tournament records document the team's participation in the Southern Open 10-man Classic in December 2017 and the Iron City Classic in August 2018.[4]

The team subsequently competed under the Team Smoke name in the International Classic Paintball League.

At the 2019 ICPL Florida Open, Team Smoke finished second in the amateur 10-man division.[4]

DeZarn continued in a team management role and was subsequently registered as a member of the team's tournament staff and coaching personnel.[24][25]

=== 2021 amateur championship ===

The 2021 season marked an important competitive achievement in Brimstone Smoke's return to classic tournament paintball.

Competing as Team Smoke, the organisation finished second at the ICPL Old Bay Classic before winning the amateur 10-man division at the Windy City Classic in Chicago.

The team finished first in the 2021 ICPL amateur 10-man season standings with 196.4 ranking points, ahead of ThunderHorse on 179.5 points.[19]

The Windy City Classic victory secured both the event championship and the overall amateur season title.

The ICPL had identified the 2021 amateur championship as providing an opportunity for promotion to the professional division in 2022.[20]

Team Smoke subsequently competed in the ICPL professional 10-man division.

At the 2022 Sunshine Classic, the team finished second in the professional division.[4]

=== Continued classic competition (2023–2024) ===

Brimstone Smoke continued participating in ICPL professional tournaments during 2023 and 2024.

The team's official tournament records document professional 10-man participation under the Team Smoke name.[4]

At the 2024 NXL World Cup in Florida, the team entered both classic 10-man and seven-player competition.

Its own tournament report documented a third-place finish in the 10-man event.[14]

=== Consecutive Classic Cup championships (2025–2026) ===

Brimstone Smoke achieved consecutive professional 10-man championships at the ICPL Classic Cup in 2025 and 2026.

At the 2025 Classic Cup, held from 3 to 5 October at Thunder Valley Paintball Park in Seffner, Florida, Team Smoke won the professional 10-man division ahead of Image and Chicago Aftershock.[15][29]

The victory came after the team finished the preliminary round with seven wins from eight games.

The team finished fourth in the overall 2025 ICPL professional 10-man standings with 265 ranking points.[21]

Brimstone Smoke returned to the Classic Cup on 16–18 October 2026 at Outdoor Xtreme Chesapeake City in Maryland.

The team again won the professional 10-man division, finishing ahead of Chicago Aftershock and the All Americans in the official event rankings.[23][30]

The victory represented the team's second consecutive ICPL Classic Cup professional championship.

In the overall 2026 ICPL professional 10-man standings, Brimstone Smoke finished second with 286 ranking points.

Chicago Aftershock won the season championship with 292 points, finishing six points ahead of Brimstone Smoke. The All Americans also recorded 286 points but were placed third in the official standings.[22]

The season rankings counted each team's three highest-scoring tournament results.

Brimstone Smoke's counted results were:

* Windy City Classic – 4th place, 90 points.
* Pittsburgh Open Classic – 2nd place, 96 points.
* Classic Cup – 1st place, 100 points.

The team's fifth-place finish at the Golden State Classic was excluded under the league's three-result scoring system.[22]

== Ownership and management ==

Brimstone Smoke has been associated with several owners and team managers during its history.

Milt Call was involved in the team's early development and its relationship with Ultimate Air Ball.[5]

Anthony Call was subsequently involved in the organisation's ownership and management. The team's official player profiles identify him as one of its original owners.[31]

According to a statement supplied directly by the team to WikiPaintball in October 2026, Anthony Call recruited Paul DeZarn as coach and manager in 2017.

The same statement identified '''Paul DeZarn as the team's current active owner''' as of October 2026.[18]

DeZarn's coaching involvement is independently documented in official PBLeagues registrations, including the 2025 Classic Cup and 2026 Windy City Classic.[24][25]

== Notable players and personnel ==

Players and personnel documented in contemporary reports, tournament records and the team's own history include:

* '''Milt Call''' – Early team owner and paintball industry entrepreneur associated with Ultimate Air Ball and Ultimate Madness.
* '''Anthony Call''' – Original co-owner, player and team organiser.
* '''Jonathon Call''' – Original co-owner, player who won the one-on-one competition at the 2003 Mardi Gras Open.
* '''Paul DeZarn''' – Coach and manager from 2017, and active owner as reported by the team in October 2026.
* '''Danny Manning''' – Player associated with the team's later professional classic competition, including its 2025 Classic Cup campaign.

* '''[[Rocky Cagnoni]]''' – Professional player associated with the team's early national tournament period.
* '''Ronnie Simpkins''' – Former professional player whose Brimstone Smoke participation is documented in ICPL competition.
* '''Matthew (Matt) Askren''' – Player registered with Team Smoke in professional ICPL competition.
* '''Colton Doll''' – Player on the team's 2026 ICPL Windy City Classic roster.
* '''Aidan Chasman''' – Player on the team's 2026 ICPL Windy City Classic roster.
* '''Carl Markowski''' – Player documented on Team Smoke's ICPL professional roster.
* '''Mark (Marky) Ireland''' – Former Miami Rage professional player identified with Team Smoke during its 2021 amateur championship campaign.

Danny Manning and Ronnie Simpkins were identified among Team Smoke's players in contemporary coverage of the 2025 Classic Cup.[28]

Official tournament rosters separately document Askren, Doll, Chasman, Markowski, Simpkins and DeZarn.[24][25][26]

The ICPL's 2021 Windy City Classic preview identified Mark Ireland as part of the team's amateur championship roster.[27]

The individuals listed represent selected historical associations rather than a complete roster for any particular season.

== Selected tournament results ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Competition
! Division
! Result
|-
| 2001
| International Amateur Open
| Amateur 10-man
| 4th
|-
| 2002
| PSP Las Vegas Open
| Amateur 5-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2002
| International Amateur Open
| Amateur 5-man
| 1st
|-
| 2002
| NPPL Atlantic City Open
| Amateur 5-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2002
| Aruba Pro/Am
| Amateur
| 1st (Smoke This)
|-
| 2003
| PSP Los Angeles Open
| Division One X-Ball
| 3rd
|-
| 2003
| PSP Chicago Open
| Pro-Am 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2003
| PSP World Cup
| Pro-Am 10-man
| 3rd
|-
| 2021
| ICPL Windy City Classic
| Amateur 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2021
| ICPL season championship
| Amateur 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2022
| ICPL Sunshine Classic
| Professional 10-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2024
| NXL World Cup
| Classic 10-man
| 3rd
|-
| 2025
| ICPL Classic Cup
| Professional 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2025
| ICPL season standings
| Professional 10-man
| 4th
|-
| 2026
| ICPL Pittsburgh Open Classic
| Professional 10-man
| 2nd
|-
| 2026
| ICPL Classic Cup
| Professional 10-man
| 1st
|-
| 2026
| ICPL season standings
| Professional 10-man
| 2nd
|}

The table lists selected documented results rather than the team's complete tournament history.

== See also ==

* [[International Amateur Open]]
* [[National Professional Paintball League]]
* [[Paintball Sports Promotions]]
* [[International Classic Paintball League]]
* [[Chicago Aftershock]]
* [[Rocky Cagnoni]]

== References ==

# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/about-us/ Team Smoke Paintball – About Us]. Official team history.
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/zapam/2001/index.shtml WARPIG – 2001 International Amateur Open].
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/iao/2002/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 Diablo International Amateur Open].
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/f0maAnH7QYqbW03v PBLeagues – Brimstone Smoke]. Historical tournament results.
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/mardigras/2003/index.shtml WARPIG – 2003 Mardi Gras Open]. 20–23 February 2003.
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2002/vegas/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 PSP Las Vegas Open].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2002/atlantic_city/5pre.shtml WARPIG – 2002 NPPL Atlantic City Open].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/aruba/2002/index.shtml WARPIG – 2002 Aruba Pro/Am].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2003/la/index.shtml WARPIG – 2003 PSP Los Angeles Open].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/psp/2003/chicago/10pre.shtml WARPIG – 2003 PSP Chicago Open 10-Man Results].
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/f0maAnH7QYqbW03v PBLeagues – Brimstone Smoke Historical Results].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/ultimate_madness/2003/index.shtml WARPIG – Ultimate Madness III].
# [https://warpig.com/paintball/tournament/ultimate_madness/2004/index.shtml WARPIG – Ultimate Madness IV].
# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/blog/category/paintball/ Team Smoke Paintball – World Cup 2024]. Official team tournament report.
# [https://paintballdirt.substack.com/p/weekly-newsletter-team-smoke-wins Paintball Dirt – Team Smoke Wins ICPL Classic Cup]. Brandon Olson, 6 October 2025.
# [https://paintballdirt.substack.com/p/weekly-newsletter-icpl-pittsburgh Paintball Dirt – ICPL Pittsburgh Open Classic Results]. Brandon Olson, 3 August 2026.
# [https://paintballnerd.com/blogs/interviews/fun-five-interview-with-rocky-cagnoni Paintball Nerd – Fun Five Interview with Rocky Cagnoni]. 23 December 2022.
# Team Smoke, direct Instagram correspondence with WikiPaintball, 21 October 2026. Unpublished primary-source statement concerning Paul DeZarn's appointment and ownership.
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2021 PBLeagues – 2021 ICPL Season Rankings]. Official amateur 10-man championship standings.
# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/battle-at-the-badlandz-the-2021-icpl-windy-city-classic ICPL – Battle at the Badlandz: The 2021 ICPL Windy City Classic]. Quinn Nadu, 27 September 2021.
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2025 PBLeagues – 2025 ICPL Season Rankings].
# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2026 PBLeagues – 2026 ICPL Season Rankings].
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/9450/rankings PBLeagues – 2026 ICPL Classic Cup Official Rankings]. 16–18 October 2026.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/NYy8yp6qExuuWHxV PBLeagues – Team Smoke, 2025 Classic Cup Roster]. Identifies Paul DeZarn as coach.
# [https://mlpb.pbleagues.com/team/roster/mGfqL1wk6Q7oVfbb PBLeagues – Brimstone Smoke, 2026 Windy City Classic Roster]. Documents DeZarn, Doll, Chasman and Simpkins.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/5JQhvDTh0bTQZhbl PBLeagues – Team Smoke, Windy City Classic Roster]. Documents Carl Markowski.
# [https://www.nxlclassicpaintball.com/post/battle-at-the-badlandz-the-2021-icpl-windy-city-classic ICPL – 2021 Windy City Classic Preview]. Identifies Mark Ireland among Team Smoke's players.
# [https://viewer.joomag.com/paintball-media-magazine-november-2025/0549794001762349016/p35 Paintball Media Magazine – 2025 ICPL Classic Cup Coverage]. November 2025, p. 35. Identifies Danny Manning and other Team Smoke players.
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/8994/info PBLeagues – 2025 ICPL Classic Cup Event Information]. Official dates and venue.
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/9450/info PBLeagues – 2026 ICPL Classic Cup Event Information]. Official dates and venue.
# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/blog/portfolio-category/player-profiles/ Team Smoke Paintball – Player Profiles]. Official information on Anthony Call, Paul DeZarn and individual players.

== External links ==

* [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/ Team Smoke Paintball official website]
* [https://pbleagues.com/team/f0maAnH7QYqbW03v Brimstone Smoke tournament history at PBLeagues]
* [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2026 2026 ICPL professional season standings]

[[Category:American paintball teams]]
[[Category:Professional paintball teams]]