The Okanagan Sun rarely throw around the word ‘rebuild.’
That’s because the perennial powerhouse in the B.C. Football Conference only really reloads — year after year, for more than three decades now.
 
So, this year is no exception, with spring camp beginning tonight and kicking off the 2017 campaign that will start with the Sun hosting the defending champion Westshore Rebels on July 27.
“Some years, it is more (rebuilding) than others . . . but we’ve got enough returning guys that we’re going to be in that conversation (as contenders) anyway, and if we can add three to five impact guys, then we’ll definitely be competitive again,” said general manager Jay Christensen, who knows the Sun tradition as well as anyone, being a former player and longtime coach.
Reloading with impact players is key, since the Sun bid farewell to three All-Canadians and seven veteran starters after last season. But what Okanagan does best is build from within — year over year, with second- and third-stringers becoming starters without skipping a beat.
“That’s the benefit of having strength in numbers, and having quality,” said Christensen. “So the guys that may not be starting last year have been practising against the best defence in the conference all year, and all of the sudden they come back another year stronger and faster. Combined with that experience from last year of competing in practice, and they got a leg up definitely when they come back with a chance to start this year.”
With Ben Macauley back for his second season as head coach, the team already has a running start thanks to that stability — and familiarity with the roughly 45 returnees.
Close to 80 players will be auditioning this weekend, including more than 30 recruits lured to the Okanagan by Macauley and defensive coordinator Nathan Mollard.
“Spring camp is always an exciting time. Not only are you excited to see the returning guys come back, who in some cases you haven’t seen since early November, but lots of new faces,” said Christensen, who will do his part to help sell the program to the top prospects. “Afterwards, it’s talking to Ben and trying to come up with a core group of guys that we want to identify and sink our teeth into. Once we do that, it’s generally not too difficult to get guys to commit here and to stay here.
“It definitely is the nicest place to play junior football in the conference, not only from a city point of view, but we’re making sure these guys are set up with places to stay and jobs if they need them. And the scholarship program is huge, because all these guys are wanting to move on and play at the next level — whether that’s university or the CFL,” Christensen continued. “We’ve always had the best record for getting guys to the CFL, and that’s something we stress with them.
“Another thing that really helps us is we’ve always delivered on any of the promises we’ve made. That word gets around, that it’s a great place to play, we’re always competitive, and they know what they’re going to get, so they’re not disappointed.”
Registration takes place today at the Apple Bowl, followed by the first of four practice sessions this evening at the nearby Parkinson Rec Field. There will be more practices Saturday morning and afternoon and another early Sunday before the camp wraps up with a 90-minute scrimmage starting at 11 a.m.