For 40-plus returning members of the , the last memory of the 2016 season wasn鈥檛 a particularly pleasant one.
On Saturday night, the Sun look to begin the 2017 campaign with a much different feel when they play host to the rival and defending champion Westshore Rebels.
It was the Rebels who halted Okanagan鈥檚 Canadian Bowl hopes last October with a victory over them in the Cullen Cup final in Victoria.
While a little payback may be in the back of a few minds of Sun players, head coach Ben Macauley says that鈥檚 in the past.
鈥淭here might be some carry over from that game, we feel like they didn鈥檛 necessarily beat us as much we allowed that to happen,鈥 said Macauley. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 in the past. It鈥檚 a big rivalry and the guys are excited to play them and get the season under way.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to place too much importance on this game, it鈥檚 our first and we鈥檙e not going to base our whole season on it,鈥 Macauley added. 鈥淥f course we want to come out and play well, but it鈥檚 about getting better and improving with each week.鈥
With a full season now under his belt, plenty of experience on the coaching staff, a solid returning corps, and a strong recruiting class, Macauley says the Sun is well ahead of where it was 12 months ago, describing the difference as 鈥渘ight and day.鈥
Fifth-year linebacker Eli Haynes is on board with his head coach.
鈥淭hings have been better this season from the get-go,鈥 said Haynes, one of the key leaders on the Sun defense this season. 鈥淭he (coaches) did a great job of recruiting, the guys they brought in are all really good guys and have all fit in well.
鈥淲e had a good training camp, we鈥檝e prepared well, so we鈥檙e excited to get at it.鈥
As for the Rebels, the defending champs have undergone a number of changes on both sides of the ball since last season, including the loss of all-star running back, Jamal Lyles.
Regardless, Macauley expects the Rebels to bring a solid game plan into the Apple Bowl on Saturday night.
鈥淭here a lot of new faces there we don鈥檛 know a lot about, it鈥檚 hard to know what to expect, but we do expect them to be competitive,鈥 Macauley said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e playing against the defending champs, so it鈥檒l be a good gauge for us to see where we stand.鈥
Kick off at the Apple Bowl between the Sun and Westshore is 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Sun in top 50
Five members of the Sun have cracked the Canadian Junior Football League鈥檚 annual rankings of the top 50 players in the country.
The players selected and their overall ranking:
鈥 27鈥擟onor Richard, linebacker
鈥 35鈥擝eck Fullerton, defensive back
鈥 39鈥擡li Haynes, linebacker
鈥 43鈥擟ory McCoy, defensive line
鈥 47鈥擝rendan Hansen, running back