With the start of the B.C. Football Conference season still two months away, the message from head coach Ben Macauley is already crystal clear91裸聊视频攖his year91裸聊视频檚 Okanagan Sun will play with physicality, grit and resolve.

At the club91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 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,91裸聊视频� said Macauley, entering his second season as the Sun91裸聊视频檚 head man.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of our first-line guys were injured, so the young guys got more repetition. We saw a little of who91裸聊视频檚 got competition in them and who are the fighters.

91裸聊视频淲e have to have a team that91裸聊视频檚 resilient. Our coaching staff will be pushing them, not just physically but mentally.91裸聊视频�

Among the newcomers to impress the Sun was Matthew Panattoni, a 6-foot-2, 230 pound linebacker from Aden Bowman Collegiate in Saskatoon. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 really athletic and made some big plays out there,91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淐ole really surprised us because he wasn91裸聊视频檛 that involved last year, but he really had a good off-season and came in prepared,91裸聊视频� said Macauley. 91裸聊视频淗e made some really good plays in the scrimmage.91裸聊视频�

Macauley was also encouraged by the performance of quarterback Keith Zyla who 91裸聊视频渓ooks pretty confident91裸聊视频� and is returning to take on the No. 1 job.

As for his second tour of duty at the Sun91裸聊视频檚 helm, Macauley said he and his supporting staff will be better prepared and should hit the ground running when the season kicks off.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檒l be about preparation, we91裸聊视频檒l have a better idea what to expect,91裸聊视频� said Macauley, who has a coaching staff of 18 to work with in 2017. 91裸聊视频淟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).91裸聊视频�

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

The Rebels defeated the Sun in last year91裸聊视频檚 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 Sun91裸聊视频檚 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 football91裸聊视频攗ntil two co-workers in Port Alberni suggested he give it a whirl.

91裸聊视频淚 never considered it, but then they told me about the Okanagan Sun and I thought, OK, I91裸聊视频檒l give it a try,91裸聊视频� said Comeau, 21.

His first text to Ben Macauley inquiring about an invitation to spring camp went unanswered, but when the second text revealed Comeau91裸聊视频檚 size, the Sun head coach was quick to respond.

91裸聊视频淗e said he hadn91裸聊视频檛 played football and had played hockey, so I didn91裸聊视频檛 think much of it to start with,91裸聊视频� said Macauley. 91裸聊视频淏ut when he texted again that he was 6-6 and 330, I picked up the phone right away and called him.91裸聊视频�

Slotted in on the defensive line, Comeau got his first taste of football over three days at the team91裸聊视频檚 spring camp.

While the learning curve will be sizeable, Macauley can91裸聊视频檛 help but be impressed with Comeau91裸聊视频檚 athleticism and intrigued by his potential.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 really raw. He hadn91裸聊视频檛 even put on pads, he had them on backwards the first day,91裸聊视频� Macauley said with smile. 91裸聊视频淏ut after that first practise, he was a physical force. He91裸聊视频檚 330 and there91裸聊视频檚 not much fat on him at all. He91裸聊视频檚 athletic and has good, quick feet for his size.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 a specimen, for sure. He91裸聊视频檒l be a project, but he knows what it91裸聊视频檚 like to compete and work hard to play at a high level.91裸聊视频�

For Comeau91裸聊视频檚 part, taking a crack at football is a new adventure, one he plans to throw all his energies towards.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 all new to me, so it91裸聊视频檚 like being a kid again,91裸聊视频� Comeau said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be fun, there91裸聊视频檚 going to be some ups and downs for sure, but the more I91裸聊视频檓 into it and longer I91裸聊视频檓 here, there should be more ups.

91裸聊视频淚 do feel like I can do this,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淚 know it91裸聊视频檚 a big learning curve, but I91裸聊视频檓 in the gym all the time, always trying to get better.91裸聊视频�

As for his impressions of Kelowna and the Sun football club, Comeau couldn91裸聊视频檛 have asked for a better introduction to either.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 unreal here, a really nice place,91裸聊视频� said Comeau, who had plenty of support from returning Sun players during camp.

91裸聊视频淚 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.91裸聊视频�