Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photography

The 36th Okanagan Sun schedule was released last week, here are five takeaways from the Broadcast Booth with Ryan Watters:

1) Interconference Game:  This is groundbreaking!  Most Sun fans have September 17th already circled on the calendar as a day history is made across the Canadian Junior Football League.  The Sun will host the Saskatoon Hilltops in the rematch of last year’s Canadian Bowl.  This will be the first time the Sun have played a team from the Prairie Football Conference in a regular season game.  Overall it’s the ninth time these two powerhouses have met and first time at the Apple Bowl since the 2000 national championship and who knows, could be a preview of this year’s Canadian Bowl!  Do not miss this game.

2) A Familiar Face: The home opener should also create a buzz in the city as the Sun host the Westshore Rebels for the second consecutive year on Saturday August 6th.  The biggest reason for the buzz, it’s the return of former head coach Shane Beatty, who is now a member of the Rebels coaching staff.  Following the Canadian Bowl, the two mutually parted ways, this will be the first of two meetings this season.

3) Just One Matinee: Traditionally the Sun have had two, sometimes three Sunday afternoon games following the Labour Day weekend.  This season, there is just one matinee and it’s the regular season finale when the Langley Rams come to town on October 2nd. The reason for the slight change this season is the highly anticipated visit of the Saskatoon Hilltops.  Hosting the game at 7:00pm on Saturday September 17th worked easier for the transportation aspect of the plan.  The Hilltops will be flying to BC along with the Winnipeg Rifles who will carry onto Chilliwack.

4) Good Things Are Worth Waiting For:  This could be the first time in team history that the Sun will have four bye weeks.  If the Sun are lucky enough to play and host the Canadian Bowl, they will play just two games in 41 days between the regular season finale and the national championship.  Following the October 2nd game against the Rams, the Sun will have a bye during Thanksgiving. The week after will be a semi-final, then another bye before the Cullen Cup, followed by yet another week off on the first weekend of November, before the Canadian Bowl on November 12th.  At least the players will be rested.  Oh and actually the first Sun bye is on the Labour Day long weekend with the rest of the Conference.

5) Interior Rivalry Done Early: Unlike last season when the Sun faced the Kamloops Broncos twice in three weeks at the end of the season.  This year these two rivals will meet twice before the halfway point of the campaign.  In Week 2 the Sun will visit Hillside Stadium before the Broncos stop at the Apple Bowl in Week 5.

The Sun open Spring Camp on May 13-15.