Moscow Red Legion will play in the 2022 NXL Season. Plus interview with Jason Burns!

We have gotten confirmation from sources on the team that Moscow Red Legion is finalizing all preparations to play the 2022 NXL Season. This is great news after there were some rumors of uncertainty for the Red Legion and their ability to play in the NXL in the coming year due to COVID restriction. 

Jason Burns is preparing for his third season as a professional player with the Moscow Red Legion and we got to chat with him about his thoughts on the upcoming year, as well as the importance of having the entire strength of their roster back. 
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Photo Credit: Kurrite Photography.

Q) What is the plan for Red Legion in 2022? Will we see the team playing the entire NXL US season?

Jason: "Yes, we will be attending all the events required by NXL and are very excited to compete and raise the standard in the 2022 season."

Q) What about the roster? Will we see Red Legion back at full strength with the entire roster back? What is the projected roster for 2022?

Jason: "At this time it is highly likely we will have all the team back. ​All the heavy hitters back again. But we may have some other weapons as well. Maybe some returns?"

Jason projected the roster:

Alexander Berdnikov
Denis Golev
Pavel Karsliev
Vladimir Kozirev
Vasiliy Panteleev
Kirill Prikhidni
Leonid Smotrov
Sergey Solnyshkov
​Jason Burns
Mike Waring

Photo Credit: Verbhal.

Q) You have been with the team for a few seasons now, how has that experience been for you? What is the training like for Red Legion?

Jason: "Well I have lived in Russia for seven years almost eight. I actually didn't make the team the first time I tried out. They do not joke around at all when it comes to physical and technical perfection. The training is the best I've ever had and is almost an every day activity. We have a beautiful indoor Reball facility set up by Kirill and Pasha that holds us during the winter month and a field for the spring and summer."

Q) Will we see the full coaching staff back for Red Legion? Can you touch on how important of a role the coaching staff players for your team?

Jason: "Yes, the coaching staff will be back for 2022. We didnt have the staff last year due to the COVID travel issues. It was sort of the underlying issue. Having a coach present is absolutely needed. But again, from a distance Alexey had did what no other coach could do."

Q) What message would you have for the rest of the league after Red Legion under performed a bit last season? Are you guys ready to take over the league again?

Jason: "Well the message is 100 percent that we are coming. As for the under-performance, it was not due to the core team; it was losing players due to covid closing embassies all around the World, and having to pick up players that had not practiced with us. Finishing 6th in the season ranking is not an under-performance when you think of us really only having five core guys and picking up Mike Waring the first event "

Q) The team has worked closely with Dye and Pro Shar over the last few years, how important are those relationships for the team, being that you are one of the main guys at Pro Shar?

Well, I have to say personally Dye has been so great to us. Not just the top guys, but the tech team, sales reps and literally every person that represents Dye. As for ProShar,  supporting a paintball manufacturer out of Russia is the only way. They have made sure paint is where it should be, even after so many issues with COVID and shipping. 

Q) ​Any plans of expansion into divisional paintball in 2022?

Yes, in fact we have already created a USA Divisional branch with a home field at Paintball Indiana. But we didn't stop there, we have created a European Divisional Team as well based out of Uffenhiem Paintball in Germany. This is an extension of the Wave School Program. Our School has over 500 interactive students as well as 5 full teams based across the world and now our two Divisional Teams under our banner. ​