If last weekendB次元官网网址檚 turnout for the Westshore Rebels mini-camp was any indication, fans can expect the team to make some noise in B.C. Football Conference play this season.
Not only is the number of committed and interested players way up from this time last year, the quality of athletes attending the teamB次元官网网址檚 spring and main camps is also expected to be on the rise, according to head coach J.C. Boice.
B次元官网网址淚 love what IB次元官网网址檓 seeing,B次元官网网址� he said during a break from scrimmage Sunday at Goudy Field.
B次元官网网址淲e laid the foundation last year with changing the attitude. Then weB次元官网网址檝e built on that foundation with a really great off-season, adding coach (Shane) Beatty, getting the (training) facility going. And now youB次元官网网址檙e starting to see the results. We are so far ahead of where we were last year on both sides of the football. Just the conditioning of the kids, the attitude, the tempo, the focus B次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e just way ahead. IB次元官网网址檓 very excited.B次元官网网址�
Most of the 42 first-year players and many veterans from last yearB次元官网网址檚 fifth-place, 2-8 club will be back. But plenty of new recruits will also be on hand vying for spots, which means this summer will see the most competitive Rebels training camp in years.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got 25 more kids than last year and this year weB次元官网网址檝e started at well over 100,B次元官网网址� Boice said, adding the increased field will mean cuts will have to be made. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to fill our roster with 75 of the most committed, hungry, well-behaved athletes we can B次元官网网址� 75 kids this community can be proud of.B次元官网网址�
Not only were there dozens of local players here whoB次元官网网址檝e been getting after it in the gym and on the field for the past several months, roughly 18 prospective Rebels from Alberta, Winnipeg and even Ontario took part in last weekendB次元官网网址檚 two-day camp.
Trey Campbell, a powerful, fleet-footed running back who arrived from Toronto last fall and has been working out here since, looks forward to the chance to crack the RebelsB次元官网网址� roster. He attempted to latch on with the Vancouver Island Raiders a couple of seasons back but never saw any game time.
B次元官网网址淚 just love what they invest in the kids,B次元官网网址� he said of the Rebels organization. B次元官网网址淓specially, we have and we have the community behind us and the coaches genuinely care for us.B次元官网网址�
Campbell is among a dedicated group of a dozen or so players who show up at the clubB次元官网网址檚 new West Shore Parkway training facility for workouts at 6 a.m. with Beatty. B次元官网网址淭hey truly care about us and they care about our future.B次元官网网址�
Beatty, the RebelsB次元官网网址� new associate head coach and 2015 BCFC champion with the Okanagan Sun, was a vocal presence on the turf at Goudy Field. Often heard barking at his defensive players for missed assignments or being out of position, he also gave plenty of kudos when the D would come up with a big tackle.
As with Boice, he likes what heB次元官网网址檚 seeing so far.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be very big and fast on the d-line and the o-line, and itB次元官网网址檚 nice to see the pieces of the puzzle all coming together right now,B次元官网网址� Beatty said.
With four defensive linemen likely destined for Canadian university ball, and another four on the offensive line showing great potential to go the same route, thereB次元官网网址檒l likely be more holes opened up on one side of the ball and closed on the other than in recent years.
Offensive linemen Aarmin Purewal and Jake Hall, plus d-linemen Jorge Monzon-Yarwood and Shaun Robinson all attended the recent , designed to give the CFL teamB次元官网网址檚 staff a look at the top junior players in B.C.
Boice said the Rebels have heard back from the Lions on the results of the camp, and he expects to see at least a couple of his players getting their pro careers started within a couple of years.
But for now, veteran Rebels like fifth-year safety Brody Uddenberg and third-year left tackle Kyle Harrington are excited to see improvements in the club that kicks off its season with a rare Sunday game July 24 against Langley at Westhills Stadium.
B次元官网网址淚 see a different level of team,B次元官网网址� Uddenberg said, B次元官网网址淚 mean, everythingB次元官网网址檚 higher up, everythingB次元官网网址檚 faster, everybodyB次元官网网址檚 more on the same page.B次元官网网址�
Harrington, one of the guys who answers the bell for the early morning weight room call, enjoyed seeing the fresh young talent from Alberta enter the mix.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a huge jump toward getting to where we want to be,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just excited to play football. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a long off-season.B次元官网网址�
The Rebels full spring camp is set for May 20 to 22 at Westhills Stadium. For more information on the team or to inquire about volunteer positions or sponsorships, visit .
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
