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Offseason Forecast: Okanagan Sun

By Ryan Watters (@ryan2tswatters), 04/22/15, 12:45AM PDT

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They are retooled and ready for Spring Camp

Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photograhy

The Okanagan Sun hosted the BCFC Cullen Cup championship for the first time in four seasons in 2014, falling in a heartbreaker 23-19 to Langley.  The Sun have be ousted by the Rams in back to back season on home field.

The Sun will return a core group of players from last season in 2015 hungry to get back to the championship game and beyond.

What’s Changing?

Following another playoff defeat the Sun have made some changes on the coaching staff, trying to shake things up with a fresh look.  Head Coach and reigning CJFL Coach of the Year returns for this third season and will take over the offensive coordinator duties.  Also on the offensive side of the ball Greg Patchell becomes the new quarterbacks coach with his son in his final season at receiver.  Alum Tommy Howes returns to the club after a success year in Windsor and an OFC title to coach the receivers along with Mike Pullin.

Defensively the Sun, who had the stingiest ”D” in 2014 sees former CFLer Mike Botterill take over as the defensive coordinator.  2014 graduate Jeff Mock will start his coaching career as the linebackers coach.

Graduating Players:

* DB/R Robbie Yochim: Perhaps the biggest loss for the Sun is team MVP Robbe Yochim after five incredible years. Last year Robbie set new BCFC records for kickoff return average (43.1 yards), a career record of most combined punt and missed field goal returns (163), and most punt returns in a career (156).  Yochim also set a new team record with 603 kickoff return yards in one season.

* DB Dexter Janke: He only played one season of junior football but made an immediate impact in the Sun secondary.  Janke, who appears to be CFL bound following an unbelievable combine, had 14 tackles, 5 assists, a knockdown and three interceptions.  He was named a BCFC All-Star for commanding the Sun secondary.

* LB Ron Mwamba: Like Janke, Mwamba joined the Sun for just one season from the University of Saskatchewan.  The Edmonton native was the defensive quarterback compiling 28 tackles, 12 assisted stops, had a sack, a knockdown, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

* DL Zac Ironstand: His final season was his best in junior football.  The North Battleford native recorded 12 tackles, 5 assisted tackles, 6 sacks, a knockdown and a fumble recovery.

What They Need:

The Sun return a number of players of the offensive side of the ball in 2015, however defence and the return game are two areas that Head Coach Shane Beatty is looking at in the offseason.  Specifically the club is looking for linebackers after the graduation of Mwamba and fifth year player Jeff Mock, as well as the defensive line.  As a big believer is special teams Beatty is also trying to fill the hole left by the graduation of Yochim.

Counting On:

The Sun are fortunate to have a number of key leaders back for the 2015 season.  One of the team’s biggest leaders is safety and punter Brennan Van Nistelrooy.  In 2014 the All-Canadian made 23 tackles and 10 assists, along with 2 sacks,  blocked a kick, had four knockdowns, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and had a pair of interceptions.

A season ago the Sun had the most dangerous running attack in the BCFC thanks in large part to the offensive line.  This season they will rely on returners and All-Canadians Cliff Crews and Michele Vecchio.  Both players not only helped blow open holes for the run game, but gave Sun quarterbacks enough time to look down field and find open receivers.

The Sun will open Spring Camp on May 29 – 31 and kickoff the season on July 25th.