Every Okanagan Sun player has his own reasons to look forward to the 2014 season. For returning vets redemption from a stinging loss in last year’s semi-final game is motivation. For rookies joining the club the next step out of high school and taking on players that are bigger, stronger and faster is likely foremost on their minds.
Linebacker Paytin Chang has an entirely different perspective from any other player on the roster however as the 21 year old Kelowna Secondary product returns home after spending the last three seasons with the Kamloops Broncos.
Chang says that while growing up playing for the Sun was “always something I intended to do”, there was more than one reason that took him north after high school.
“There were a few reasons. I just wanted to get away from home at the time, I thought it would be cool to live in a new city. Me and a buddy (Carter Bilawchuk) went together so it was kind of an experience together. Having him make the move with me made it easy.
That and playing time were big reasons. The Broncos were able to offer me a starting spot right away and with the Sun that wasn’t going to happen.”
Playing time and experience of a new city aside, Paytin says the decision at the time was a difficult one for him but one he would likely make again under the same circumstances.
“It was a great experience, I enjoyed it. I have no regrets. It would have been great obviously to play for the Sun but at the time it was the right choice for me.
“It was a really hard decision to do it (leave Kelowna). I had friends that were playing for the Sun and I knew they were going to be good like they always are. It was really a last second decision, me and Carter almost really flipped a coin and decided to go to Kamloops.”
Chang says that while he enjoyed his time and the organization in Kamloops, the losing did get to him as his club struggled to stay out of the basement of the conference although the Broncos did grab the 4th and final play-off spot last season. He says that games against the Sun and perennial cellar dwelling Chilliwack Huskers were the games he looked forward to most the last three years (the Broncos were 0-7 and out scored on average 39-8 the last 3 seasons against the Sun).
“I always looked forward to paying the Sun in the Apple Bowl because that was home and family was there. I looked to hit my buddies I think (laughing).
“We always circled the Chilliwack games because they were Chilliwack and we always knew that was a game we could win.”
Chang says that while the goal wasn’t to win in Kamloops as the club struggled on the field and he enjoyed the organization and the city, the losing was frustrating.
“It was “losing” frustrating for sure. I think that’s the biggest thing you notice here. Everything is more competitive, I think the goal is different, they expect to win here. Spring camp was really super intense, the coaching really good and all the players really pushed each other hard.”
He says the decision to leave the Broncos after three seasons was an easy one to make as the club understood his desire to move back to Kelowna and didn’t make the situation uncomfortable for him.
While Paytin continues his studies in Kinesiology this season, he has developed another habit that should pay dividends for him on the field this season. Never a particular fan of the gym “I really only worked out two months last year, I wasn’t really a gym guy”, he has been training in all aspects both strength and speed with his new team mates and promises a whole new level of athlete.
“This is my first year of actually working out hard and smart for football. Last year I think I worked out a couple months but now I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life. I started training right after the season last year to get ready and I haven’t stopped. If I was a 5.5 last year (physically), I’m a 10 this year.”
With the new season with his new team just 50 days away Paytin is chomping at the bit to hit the field. But while he used to look forward to games against his home town Sun and struggling Chilliwack Huskers things are different for him now.
Asked what games he has circled on the calendar…
“All of them, but I’d put a star beside Kamloops”
