With the start of the B.C. Football Conference season still two months away, the message from head coach Ben Macauley is already crystal clear香蕉视频直播攖his year香蕉视频直播檚 Okanagan Sun will play with physicality, grit and resolve.

At the club香蕉视频直播檚 annual spring camp, the Sun coaching staff had a good look at the new crop of recruits who will help carry out that mantra in 2017.

With soaring temperatures and injuries plaguing close to 20 players, the three-day camp was a test of will and resilience, characteristics Macauley said will be imperative for his team this season.

香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 want to be a team who relies on talent, we want to be a team that relies on hard work and making teams a little bit nervous to play us because of the physical stuff,香蕉视频直播� said Macauley, entering his second season as the Sun香蕉视频直播檚 head man.

香蕉视频直播淎 lot of our first-line guys were injured, so the young guys got more repetition. We saw a little of who香蕉视频直播檚 got competition in them and who are the fighters.

香蕉视频直播淲e have to have a team that香蕉视频直播檚 resilient. Our coaching staff will be pushing them, not just physically but mentally.香蕉视频直播�

Among the newcomers to impress the Sun was Matthew Panattoni, a 6-foot-2, 230 pound linebacker from Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 really athletic and made some big plays out there,香蕉视频直播� Macauley said.

Macauley also lauded the effort of KSS grad Cole Stregger, a second-year defensive back who made some big strides over the winter. 香蕉视频直播淐ole really surprised us because he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 that involved last year, but he really had a good off-season and came in prepared,香蕉视频直播� said Macauley. 香蕉视频直播淗e made some really good plays in the scrimmage.香蕉视频直播�

Macauley was also encouraged by the performance of quarterback Keith Zyla who 香蕉视频直播渓ooks pretty confident香蕉视频直播� and is returning to take on the No. 1 job.

As for his second tour of duty at the Sun香蕉视频直播檚 helm, Macauley said he and his supporting staff will be better prepared and should hit the ground running when the season kicks off.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檒l be about preparation, we香蕉视频直播檒l have a better idea what to expect,香蕉视频直播� said Macauley, who has a coaching staff of 18 to work with in 2017. 香蕉视频直播淟ast year we got bogged down with administrative stuff when we should have been worrying about football. I expect this time the focus to be on football when it comes to July 14 (training camp).香蕉视频直播�

The Sun will open the BCFC season July 29 at home to the defending champion Westshore Rebels.

The Rebels defeated the Sun in last year香蕉视频直播檚 Cullen Cup final.

Comeau brings size, raw potential

Prior to last weekend, Carter Comeau had never played a single down of football.

Following the Okanagan Sun香蕉视频直播檚 2017 spring camp, a career on the gridiron just might be in the cards for the Riverton, Manitoba native.

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Comeau, who grew up playing hockey and is a linesman in the B.C. Hockey League, had never entertained the notion of playing football香蕉视频直播攗ntil two co-workers in Port Alberni suggested he give it a whirl.

香蕉视频直播淚 never considered it, but then they told me about the Okanagan Sun and I thought, OK, I香蕉视频直播檒l give it a try,香蕉视频直播� said Comeau, 21.

His first text to Ben Macauley inquiring about an invitation to spring camp went unanswered, but when the second text revealed Comeau香蕉视频直播檚 size, the Sun head coach was quick to respond.

香蕉视频直播淗e said he hadn香蕉视频直播檛 played football and had played hockey, so I didn香蕉视频直播檛 think much of it to start with,香蕉视频直播� said Macauley. 香蕉视频直播淏ut when he texted again that he was 6-6 and 330, I picked up the phone right away and called him.香蕉视频直播�

Slotted in on the defensive line, Comeau got his first taste of football over three days at the team香蕉视频直播檚 spring camp.

While the learning curve will be sizeable, Macauley can香蕉视频直播檛 help but be impressed with Comeau香蕉视频直播檚 athleticism and intrigued by his potential.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 really raw. He hadn香蕉视频直播檛 even put on pads, he had them on backwards the first day,香蕉视频直播� Macauley said with smile. 香蕉视频直播淏ut after that first practise, he was a physical force. He香蕉视频直播檚 330 and there香蕉视频直播檚 not much fat on him at all. He香蕉视频直播檚 athletic and has good, quick feet for his size.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a specimen, for sure. He香蕉视频直播檒l be a project, but he knows what it香蕉视频直播檚 like to compete and work hard to play at a high level.香蕉视频直播�

For Comeau香蕉视频直播檚 part, taking a crack at football is a new adventure, one he plans to throw all his energies towards.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 all new to me, so it香蕉视频直播檚 like being a kid again,香蕉视频直播� Comeau said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be fun, there香蕉视频直播檚 going to be some ups and downs for sure, but the more I香蕉视频直播檓 into it and longer I香蕉视频直播檓 here, there should be more ups.

香蕉视频直播淚 do feel like I can do this,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚 know it香蕉视频直播檚 a big learning curve, but I香蕉视频直播檓 in the gym all the time, always trying to get better.香蕉视频直播�

As for his impressions of Kelowna and the Sun football club, Comeau couldn香蕉视频直播檛 have asked for a better introduction to either.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 unreal here, a really nice place,香蕉视频直播� said Comeau, who had plenty of support from returning Sun players during camp.

香蕉视频直播淚 had a million questions, and there were so many guys to talk to. Answers galore, everybody was so helpful. That makes it a lot more comfortable.香蕉视频直播�