Not everyone survived the Westshore Rebels spring camp, by most accounts the most intense, fast-paced junior football camp seen here in years.

For those who stuck it out and battled through the drills and scrimmages under the warm May sunshine at Westhills Stadium in Langford, the end result was to know what they need to work on for when the B.C. Football Conference clubB次元官网网址檚 main camp rolls around at the end of June.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e right where I thought we would be,B次元官网网址� said head coach J.C. Boice. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting a lot of work done, but we still have a lot of work to do. We came here wanting to find out if we had kids that would truly compete, and we did. There was a lot of kids on both sides of the ball that came out and competed. Now the key is to take all that energy and go into skill development. IB次元官网网址檓 very excited, but now the work really begins.B次元官网网址�

The club saw a huge jump in attendees at the camp. The 93 players registered was a three-fold increase over last season, when, as team president Elise Pastro joked, B次元官网网址渋f you had a pulse weB次元官网网址檇 invite you to camp.B次元官网网址�

Coming off a second straight 2-8 season, but one in which the teamB次元官网网址檚 braintrust earned national junior football executive of the year honours for its work rebuilding the club, the Rebels continue to promote a positive and professional atmosphere from top to bottom in the organization.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of blood sweat and tears,B次元官网网址� Pastro said. B次元官网网址淎s a board of directors, weB次元官网网址檝e been meeting every Monday since (last) season ended, and the countless hours and efforts of our board to get us to where we are today B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 exceeded our expectations and more.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 all part of the master plan to bring respectability and competitiveness to the once-vaunted club.

The team wanted last year, but were unable to secure his services. That, said Pastro, forced the club to work on the teamB次元官网网址檚 public image first, getting the players more visible in the community, before trying to transform the team on the field. Where the long-term vision for the club began being crafted last season, she said, Boice is helping to complete that vision.

B次元官网网址淵ears ago you could be the beer-drinking, party animal football player, (but) the sport has changed so much. You needed to be conditioned and ready to perform this weekend and there were some players who had their eyes opened to the level of competition thatB次元官网网址檚 on this field,B次元官网网址� Pastro said.

The difference in atmosphere at the U.S. was not lost on two individuals whoB次元官网网址檝e been around a while.

Third-year defensive tackle and guard Tyson Morison could barely contain his excitement when asked about the change in vibe from past Rebels camps heB次元官网网址檚 attended.

B次元官网网址淭he energy is so different; itB次元官网网址檚 so upbeat and thereB次元官网网址檚 so many new faces out here,B次元官网网址� he said of the players and coaches. He predicted the team would finish B次元官网网址渙ver .500B次元官网网址� this summer. B次元官网网址淲ith all the guys and the quality athletes out here, weB次元官网网址檙e definitely going to do something special this season.B次元官网网址�

Assistant head coach and former Rebels player Sheldon Halliman echoed that sentiment.

B次元官网网址淪pring camp was solid,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know that main camp will be even better, which tells me that weB次元官网网址檙e going to head into the season running and it should be a really exciting season for the Westshore Rebels.B次元官网网址�

The Rebels may have four players battling for the quarterback position this season, and Boice hinted that the team may run multiple QBs.

Incumbent B次元官网网址減rogressed a lotB次元官网网址� through the weekend, Boice said, and highly-touted northern Alberta high school grad Talon Davies performed as advertised.

But SookeB次元官网网址檚 Alex Wright, who hasnB次元官网网址檛 played much the last two years, showed enough chops B次元官网网址渢o get himself into the hunt,B次元官网网址� Boice said. Add in Devoun Hallams, a 6-2, 200-pound stud whose rights are owned by defending BCFC champion Langley Rams B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 seeking his release from the club to attend school here B次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a very interesting competition,B次元官网网址� Boice said.

Boice said as many players as wish to work out with the team and learn about football will be encouraged to stick around through the season, but the team will have a 45-man roster limit for games.

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