No one will be able to say the Westshore Rebels havenB次元官网网址檛 worked their tails off leading up to opening day in B.C. Football Conference play.
The Rebels, with 75 players on the field at various times last week toiling in sweltering conditions at Westhills Stadium, wrapped up their pre-season training camp Saturday with a three-hour workout.
B次元官网网址淭he boys were pretty gassed, but itB次元官网网址檚 been a great week. IB次元官网网址檓 really pleased,B次元官网网址� Rebels head coach J.C. Boice said afterward. He admitted five straight days of B次元官网网址渧ery, very fastB次元官网网址� workouts in the hot sun took its toll, but players were told coming in that it was going to be an intense week.
B次元官网网址淭he thing I told the kids at the end of the week is B次元官网网址榶ou donB次元官网网址檛 rise to the occasion, you sink the level of your preparedness,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 prepared to say weB次元官网网址檒l be the fittest team in B.C. this season.B次元官网网址�
He and his fellow coaches saw players improve through the week as they demonstrated a solid work ethic and mental toughness, especially when it came to learning what Boice admits is a rather complex offensive scheme.
B次元官网网址淚 felt like we got a lot better,B次元官网网址� he says of the progression through camp. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e on our way to being a very well-prepared football team.B次元官网网址�
There were highs and lows from the week, with what Boice called an B次元官网网址渆picB次元官网网址� battle for the starting quarterback role among the bright spots. Veteran Hunter Lake, who didnB次元官网网址檛 commit until relatively recently, is expected to provide leadership, athleticism and toughness at the position, Boice said.
Challenging him for the No. 1 spot will be former Mount Douglas Ram, Ashton Mackinnon, a six-foot-seven, 230 pound giant who returns after a year trying to crack the lineup of the University of Manitoba Bisons. Also in the hunt are EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 Talyn Davies, a decorated Alberta high school player who some watchers expected to show up in Canadian university football this season; and SookeB次元官网网址檚 Alex Wright, who continues to impress after playing little the past two seasons, but may likely line up at receiver.
Whomever winds up under centre may have a couple of talented rookies to throw to.
Nova Scotia native Nate Skeet, a potential inside or outside receiver, has shown to be B次元官网网址渧ery explosive and very dependable for a first-year player,B次元官网网址� Boice says. As well, Belmont alumnus Mike Peverelle, a lanky 6-4, 220-pounder, showed well at camp, the coach added.
But the Rebels wonB次元官网网址檛 have last yearB次元官网网址檚 receiving sensation Jordan Rodinsky on the roster, after he decided to leave the team. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 disappointed B次元官网网址� I would have thought he would have been a 1,000-yard receiver for us,B次元官网网址� Boice said.
In the backfield, the Rebels have a healthy Matt Pastro for a season until he heads to university, along with Jordan Worth, another Belmont product who is shouldering a heavier workload.
TheyB次元官网网址檒l have some holes created by former Mount Doug Ram Aarmin Purewal, a 6-5, 290-pound offensive lineman who comes home after a season with the Western University Mustangs in the CIS. HeB次元官网网址檚 one of three players in camp who played for the Rams when they won three B.C. High School championships.
Defensively, 6-2, 320-pound O-line stalwart Connor Bryan moves to the other side of the ball with the teamB次元官网网址檚 offence focusing more on passing and movement. B次元官网网址淥n the defensive line we needed to add some size,B次元官网网址� Boice said, B次元官网网址渁nd heB次元官网网址檚 the definition of big and strong.B次元官网网址�
Other notable returnees on D are defensive backs Johnny Quan and Jordan Bosse, plus linemen Tyson Morison and Peter Allan.
The Rebels donB次元官网网址檛 expect to make any cuts, Boice said, and may yet sign a couple more players from CIS teams who are looking to play junior for a year.
They open the season on the road July 25 against the Okanagan Sun, then play their home opener at Westhills against the Vancouver Island Raiders. For more information, visit .
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
