Heroic is set to reinstate Nicolai “HUNDEN” Petersen as the team’s coach on May 1, the organization has announced. His first event back behind the Danish lineup will be DreamHack Masters Spring, should the Casper “cadiaN” Møller-led side survive the first two days of the group stage, in which they will first meet paiN on Thursday at approximately 15:50 .
The 29-year-old has spent the last eight months suspended from his coaching position after he received a ban from ESIC member events in September 2020 for exploiting the infamous coaching bug alongside 36 other coaches. As part of a concession process, HUNDEN‘s original ten-month ban was reduced to eight months for his assistance with the investigation into the abuse of the bug. He was also additionally handed a ban from Valve-sanctioned events by the developers, lasting for the next five Majors.
“Hunden is our boy. We have said that before and we will keep on saying it. He contributes enormously to not only Heroic but to the entire Counter-Strike scene,” Erik Askered, Heroic‘s CGO, has stated. “We all know that Nicolai made a big mistake which does not represent what Heroic stands for. However, he has not only accepted and endured his punishment, he has also worked hard to improve Counter-Strike so mistakes like this will not happen again.”
HUNDEN returns to the coaching role with the aim to bring Heroic to the No. 1 position, shortly after the team reached second place in HLTV.org’s World Ranking following their title-winning campaign at ESL Pro League Season 13 and a top-four finish in the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown with two new members, Rasmus “sjuush” Beck and Ismail “refrezh” Ali.
“It has been tough sitting on the sidelines for eight months and not participating in the matches,” HUNDEN said in a statement. “I have spent the time refining my skills in the analysis part of the game but there is no doubt that it will take some time to find the rhythm again.”
“Heroic aims to be #1 in the world and we have to continue to work on the positive culture that the team has worked on in the last 8 months.”
Heroic‘s lineup will look as follows starting May 1:
Martin “stavn” Lund
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Source: https://www.hltv.org/news/31660/heroic-to-reinstate-hunden-as-coach
