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The Okanagan Sun open their 2018 BCFC regular season on the road in Kamloops, against the Broncos this Sunday at Hillside Stadium starting at 4 p.m.
The Okanagan Sun are looking to improve on an eight-win campaign in 2017, which ended disappointingly with a playoff loss at home to the VI Raiders. With eleven starters injured heading into that final playoff game, acquiring more depth was a big priority heading into the offseason.
The Sun are coming back recharged with new and impressive additions to the roster. Here is a look at what we can anticipate, and from who, this season.
The Sun have a new asset to utilize this year as Jakob Loucks takes on the role as quarterback, being described as the best quarterback the team has seen in decades by people within the organization.
Loucks is one of multiple USports Rookies of the Year on the Sun roster, and was set to return home to Ontario after leaving Mount Allison University, before the Sun convinced him to come to Kelowna.
The latest news with the Sun offence comes at running back, as the team added OUA Rookie of the Year Jesse Amankwaa from Toronto’s York University. Amankwaa made it into practice right away, and is on the Sun’s 55-man gameday roster for this weekend.
He’ll bolster an RB core that includes veteran Kelton Kouri and new additions Lawrenzo Dissee and Andre Goulbourne.
The receiving core features a few veterans, along with plenty of rookies who’ve grabbed spots on the gameday roster out of main camp.
Tyson Mastrodimos is back, along with sophomores Javen Kaechle, Dakota Cartier, and Spencer Schmidt.
Earning spots from the coaching staff out of main camp were rookies Malcolm Miller, Payton Price, Reid LeClaire, Cole Stroud, Adam Burton, and Kelowna native Kyle Zakala, who’s a graduate of KSS.
On the offensive line, Daniel Townsend and his 6’7” frame will be hard to miss. The line will also be bolstered by former Carleton Raven Jmin Pelley, who the team has said will likely get some work on the D-Line as well.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Sun have been fortunate to get two All-Canadians back after cornerback Tye Kitzman and linebacker Conor Richard opted not to make the jump to university this season. In the league’s Top 50 list, Richard was ranked ninth, while Kitzman shot up to number three, making him the top-ranked player in the entire Conference.
Canada West Rookie of the Year DE Nicholas Dheilly anchors the D-Line, and is a player that coaches expect will draw double team coverage this season.
He’ll be backed by a core of veterans including Cory McCoy, Aiden Hennessey, Ryan Marquardt, Gavin Kulscar, Conner Novak and James Harney. Other rookies on the 55-man roster include Jesse Boa and Ovie Uloghbui.
Richard, Tyler Going (LB/DB), Cody Thompson, Miguel Wood, and Brenden Ripco are all returning faces this season at the linebacker position. A couple rookies will join them this weekend – Austin Daisy and Bradley Hladik.
Along with Kitzman and Trey Adams returning to the secondary, the Sun will also start former quarterback Keith Zyla at safety, while former Calgary Dino Jordan Rae is one of the top newcomers who will start for the Sun.
Veterans like Cole Stregger, Dustin Magee, and Casey Pyper earned spots with rookie Kaden Kurylo.
This weekend’s game in Kamloops will be video streamed on BCFC TV. The pregame show starts at 3:30 p.m. or a 4:00 kickoff.
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