This article was written by mitchmozey, Rocket League correspondent for GINX TV
The Great White North and the Sports-Racing video game have more in common than most people think...
Rocket League is no stranger to international personalities taking the main stage; for example, the three winningest RLCS Champs are Swedish, Dutch and French in the four-time Pierre “Turbopolsa” Silfver, three-time Alexandre "Kaydop" Courant and two-time Jos "ViolentPanda" van Meurs.
But when it comes to national tier lists in Rocket League, the Lumberjack Country is a locked first-round pick.
Home to RLCS World Champions in Mariano “Squishy” Arruda and Brandon "Lachinio" Lachino, to RLCS MVP Jacob "JKnaps" Knapman and to dozens of Canuck professional Esport athletes playing for world-class teams and orgs. Defending the Maple Leaf in rosters like NRG, G2, Rogue and FaZe Clan and competing in debatably the toughest and most skillful region in the world, it is well-known Canadians in battle-cars are not to be messed.
Lachinio lifting the Season 1 RLCS World Championship trophy in 2016. (Picture: Psyonix)
Whether it’s on the pitch or in the booth with Brody “Liefx” Moore as a desk regular for RLCS and host of GINX Canada’s Rocket League Central, The North is well established and thriving in the Esports scene; and you could be next. The beauty of the TELUS Esports Series is exactly in that; in the variety of the player base and the experience gained from a professionally organized event.
Powered by Northern Arena, tournament admins will find a tier that fits your rank, so every contestant will be playing justly against their skill level and all players can get to live a fair and fun Esports experience.
Northern Arena also organized two Rocket League Invitationals with Dignitas and Cloud9 winning one each. (Picture: Northern Arena)
Just imagine the adrenaline rush of having an assigned match and opponent per week, preparing scrimmages with fellow teams and scheduling practices with your teammates, coaching each other and just letting it rip come Game Day.
It’s the dream of competing at your highest level, day in and day out, during the six-week round robin League Play where only the Top 16 teams will see the light at the end of the tunnel; knocking each other out through the bracket to reach the bright spotlight in the Grand Finals -- it doesn’t get any better than this.
Picture yourself clinching a spot in the Playoffs and having a caster call your save, your pass, your goal as opponents, friends and family watch hyped from the sidelines; this is what eating, breathing and living Esports is about -- and Canada has a chance to live it all. It’s your time to shine. Who’s to say this event isn’t the starting point for North America’s next Alexandre "Taroco" Reis Pedrogam? The next Braxton "Allushin" Lagarec? The next JKnaps or Squishy?
Canadian Rocket League pro SquishyMuffinz (Right) after winning the RLCS World Championship in Season 6. (Picture: Psyonix)
Everyone’s favourite Rocket League pro has gone through whatever rank you are in right now. They were Silver, they were Plat, they were Champs; and then they weren’t. It isn’t only the grind and practice that makes perfect, sometimes the game just clicks and experience settles in and somehow you read the ball faster, you bounce quicker, and you're already aerialing without thinking twice.
Practicing, winning and losing are all part of the grind because they bring the player base experience from which they can learn from. What better grind than to have it all on the line and take another step towards car-soccer greatness.
It’s guaranteed beyond the shadow of a doubt that the next Rocket League superstar from Canada will be playing in the TELUS Esports Series. The glory is up for grabs and it’s exciting to see the Canadian talent, passion, and drive on the pitch to prove they are the next big thing and O Canada we are oh-so ready.
The real question is, are you?
League play is currently underway, and you can also tune in every Wednesday at 4PM PT/7PM ET to catch live games casted by Liefx and LemonKiwi. Also be sure to check out the TELUS Esports Series Rocket League championship finals July 31-Aug 1 on GINX TV!