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害羞草研究所攖his year害羞草研究所檚 Okanagan Sun will play with physicality, grit and resolve.

At the club害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 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,害羞草研究所� said Macauley, entering his second season as the Sun害羞草研究所檚 head man.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of our first-line guys were injured, so the young guys got more repetition. We saw a little of who害羞草研究所檚 got competition in them and who are the fighters.

害羞草研究所淲e have to have a team that害羞草研究所檚 resilient. Our coaching staff will be pushing them, not just physically but mentally.害羞草研究所�

Among the newcomers to impress the Sun was Matthew Panattoni, a 6-foot-2, 230 pound linebacker from Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 really athletic and made some big plays out there,害羞草研究所� 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. 害羞草研究所淐ole really surprised us because he wasn害羞草研究所檛 that involved last year, but he really had a good off-season and came in prepared,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淗e made some really good plays in the scrimmage.害羞草研究所�

Macauley was also encouraged by the performance of quarterback Keith Zyla who 害羞草研究所渓ooks pretty confident害羞草研究所� and is returning to take on the No. 1 job.

As for his second tour of duty at the Sun害羞草研究所檚 helm, Macauley said he and his supporting staff will be better prepared and should hit the ground running when the season kicks off.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be about preparation, we害羞草研究所檒l have a better idea what to expect,害羞草研究所� said Macauley, who has a coaching staff of 18 to work with in 2017. 害羞草研究所淟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).害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所攗ntil two co-workers in Port Alberni suggested he give it a whirl.

害羞草研究所淚 never considered it, but then they told me about the Okanagan Sun and I thought, OK, I害羞草研究所檒l give it a try,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 size, the Sun head coach was quick to respond.

害羞草研究所淗e said he hadn害羞草研究所檛 played football and had played hockey, so I didn害羞草研究所檛 think much of it to start with,害羞草研究所� said Macauley. 害羞草研究所淏ut when he texted again that he was 6-6 and 330, I picked up the phone right away and called him.害羞草研究所�

Slotted in on the defensive line, Comeau got his first taste of football over three days at the team害羞草研究所檚 spring camp.

While the learning curve will be sizeable, Macauley can害羞草研究所檛 help but be impressed with Comeau害羞草研究所檚 athleticism and intrigued by his potential.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 really raw. He hadn害羞草研究所檛 even put on pads, he had them on backwards the first day,害羞草研究所� Macauley said with smile. 害羞草研究所淏ut after that first practise, he was a physical force. He害羞草研究所檚 330 and there害羞草研究所檚 not much fat on him at all. He害羞草研究所檚 athletic and has good, quick feet for his size.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a specimen, for sure. He害羞草研究所檒l be a project, but he knows what it害羞草研究所檚 like to compete and work hard to play at a high level.害羞草研究所�

For Comeau害羞草研究所檚 part, taking a crack at football is a new adventure, one he plans to throw all his energies towards.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 all new to me, so it害羞草研究所檚 like being a kid again,害羞草研究所� Comeau said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be fun, there害羞草研究所檚 going to be some ups and downs for sure, but the more I害羞草研究所檓 into it and longer I害羞草研究所檓 here, there should be more ups.

害羞草研究所淚 do feel like I can do this,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚 know it害羞草研究所檚 a big learning curve, but I害羞草研究所檓 in the gym all the time, always trying to get better.害羞草研究所�

As for his impressions of Kelowna and the Sun football club, Comeau couldn害羞草研究所檛 have asked for a better introduction to either.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unreal here, a really nice place,害羞草研究所� said Comeau, who had plenty of support from returning Sun players during camp.

害羞草研究所淚 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.害羞草研究所�