Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photography

Coming off our best season in over 10 years, winning our first BCFC Cullen Cup since 2004.  Advancing to the 2015 Canadian Bowl in Saskatoon, but fell in one of the most entertaining championships in recent memory.

Following the season the Sun graduated a number of key starters who were all crucial in their trip back to the national championship game.

What’s Changing?

The Sun coaching staff will look completely different from a year ago.  Out is Shane Beatty and the 16th head coach in franchise history Ben Macauley is in.  Macauley brings back defensive coordinator Nathan Mollard, and alumnus Mike Wolthuizen to run the offence.  Some familiar faces return as well to the Board of Directors.  Former players Landon King and Ben Simmons along with former head coach Jason Casey are back with the club.

Graduating Players:

QB Cam Bedore: For the first time in four seasons the Sun are looking for a new quarterback after Bedore’s junior career came to a close.    He saved his best season for his last, leading the CJFL with a 136.8% passer efficiency rating, completing 66.9% of his passes for 1,501 yards and 21 touchdowns.

WR Kyle Kawamoto: He played just one junior season, but Kawamoto had a huge impact in 2015 and will be missed this season.  He became the first receiver to collect over 1,000 yards since 2008, tallying 1,005 yards and was named an All-Canadian.  He was also named the team’s co-MVP.

DB Brennan Van Nistelrooy.  He did so much for the Sun in 2015 and one of the most talented players ever to wear the orange and brown.  Named the BCFC Defensive Player of the Year with 19 tackles, a pair of blocked kicks and intercepted six passes.  He also was the team’s punter with the opposition needing to be conscious of a fake each team the ball was snapped to him.  The Lethbridge native was named an All-Canadian and was invited to the CFL National Combine in Toronto last month.

What They Need:

New head coach Ben Macauley has a lot of work to do, trying to fill the pieces of not only the key grads, but the number of players that moved onto a CIS program.  The quarterback position is one in particular.  Starter Bedore graduated, and #1 back-up Josiah Joseph signed with the University of Calgary.  The linebacker position and offensive line is also high on the priority list.

Counting On:

The Sun are expecting big things out of offensive lineman Michele Vecchio in 2016. He is more confident than ever and has worked hard to be in great shape. He has a competitive mindset that will set him apart as a leader.

Lerone Robinson should be a marquee receiver again this year and is tough to cover. He is an athlete and is able to separate himself from a defensive back, winning the majority of the ball battles.

Defensively, lineman Lucas Machado and defensive back Matt McConnell are two guys who have yet to reach their full potential but are poised to do so after a strong off-season. Eli Haynes and Jamie Turek also will play a major role in leadership on and off of the field.