Growing up in Kelowna, Kyle Zakala often envisioned the day he香蕉视频直播檇 step on to the gridiron wearing the colours of the 香蕉视频直播檚
That time has arrived for the 18-year-old receiver.
香蕉视频直播淚 remember when I was young, going to Sun games, really liking the team and thinking how much I香蕉视频直播檇 like to play for them one day,香蕉视频直播� said Zakala, who played for Sun head coach Ben Macauley at KSS. 香蕉视频直播淚t was a dream, I guess you could say.
香蕉视频直播淩ight now, I香蕉视频直播檓 really enjoying it,香蕉视频直播� added Zakala. 香蕉视频直播淭he players are all super good and nice to be around. I香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to playing and definitely want to do my part.香蕉视频直播�
I want to thank all the coaches who have spent there time and energy into recruiting me, I will always be grateful and humbled by the amount of recognition I香蕉视频直播檝e gotten for my hard work! But to start my post secondary football career I will be playing for the Okanagan Sun!
香蕉视频直播� Kyle Zakala (@zakala_kyle)
One of more than 40 newcomers at Sun training camp, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Zakala had an opportunity to take his skills to the U Sports level this season香蕉视频直播攂oth Calgary and UBC were options香蕉视频直播攂ut chose not to rush into a decision on his education. Remaining in his hometown and playing for his former high school coach was more than enough to convince Zakala to pull on a Sun jersey in 2018.
香蕉视频直播淚 wasn香蕉视频直播檛 100 per cent sure what I wanted to take (in university), I didn香蕉视频直播檛 want to spend a lot of time and money on something I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 sure about,香蕉视频直播� said Zakala, whose older brother, Josh, is a national-calibre swimmer with the University of Victoria Vikes. 香蕉视频直播淭he Sun is a great option until I figure it out香蕉视频直播en is a great guy and a great coach, so it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 a tough decision for me.香蕉视频直播�
Zakala is among a formidable crop of rookies and newcomers expected to play key roles with the club in 2018.
Adding extra local flavour to the Sun香蕉视频直播檚 receiving corps are Blaise Beauchemin香蕉视频直播攁 teammate of Zakala香蕉视频直播檚 at KSS香蕉视频直播攁nd , a Mt. Boucherie Bears香蕉视频直播� grad who spent one season with the McGill University Redmen in Montreal.
Macauley sees plenty of promise in all three athletes and expects them to fit in nicely with the Sun program.
香蕉视频直播淜yle and Blaise, I coached both of them in high school so it香蕉视频直播檚 nice to have that relationship and history,香蕉视频直播� said Macauley, who is entering his third season at the helm of the Sun. 香蕉视频直播淲ith all three of those guys, it just makes it logistically easier for the program. They can live at home and just come in here with a certain comfort level and hit the ground running.香蕉视频直播�
Macauley sees Zakala香蕉视频直播攚ho snared nine passes for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns with the Owls last season香蕉视频直播攁s an impact player in his first season of junior football.
香蕉视频直播淜yle is a guy we香蕉视频直播檙e going to have a tough time taking off the field,香蕉视频直播� Macauley said. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a big target, tough to defend against if you put the ball up high for him. Smaller linebackers are going to find him to be a handful. We feel he香蕉视频直播檚 going to contribute right away.香蕉视频直播�
Beauchemin was a valuable jack-of-all-trades at KSS, playing at running back, receiver, quarterback, linebacker and defensive back. Last season, Beauchemin led the Owls with 461 yards rushing and five touchdowns, while hauling in 17 passes for 132 yards.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 an exceptional athlete,香蕉视频直播� Macauley said of Beauchemin. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 really bright, a smart young man. This is a chance for him to get a couple of years of physical development in before he heads off to university without losing any eligibility.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 performed well in training camp, he香蕉视频直播檚 made some great catches and is well-built physically for this level of football.香蕉视频直播�
ALSO READ: Highly-sought pivot brings talents, experience to Sun
Moore played the 2016 season at McGill, then took last year off to focus on school. He returned to Kelowna this summer with no specific plans for football香蕉视频直播攗ntil some friends offered up a suggestion.
香蕉视频直播淲e were just hanging out when one of the guys said, 香蕉视频直播榃hy don香蕉视频直播檛 you play with the Sun?香蕉视频直播� Moore said. 香蕉视频直播淪o I got in touch with Ben and it all just happened from there.
香蕉视频直播淚t feels right, I feel good about it, I think my experience in the CIS (U Sports) helped me get on track,香蕉视频直播� added Moore, 20. 香蕉视频直播淭he talent here is really good, it looks like a CIS-level team with a winning mentality. We have a good coach, Ben has a good philosophy. Coming back to the Okanagan is nice, it香蕉视频直播檒l be nice to play football in front of family and friends.香蕉视频直播�
At just 5-foot-8, 156 pounds, Moore is undersized by junior football standards.
Still, what he lacks in physcial stature, Macauley believes Moore compensates for in talent, smarts and heart.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 an undersized guy, but he香蕉视频直播檚 a playmaker,香蕉视频直播� Macauley said. 香蕉视频直播淗e plays above his height, he understands the game well and is very coachable. He香蕉视频直播檚 a big team guy and doesn香蕉视频直播檛 care how he fits in.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e always been undersized but that just adds fuel to my fire,香蕉视频直播� Moore said. 香蕉视频直播淚 play with a chip on my shoulder and I香蕉视频直播檓 used to trying to prove people wrong. I have high expectations and I want to play.香蕉视频直播�
Training camp continues this week for the Sun at the Apple Bowl/Parkinson fields.
Moore, Zakala, Beauchemin and the rest of the club will to take to the field on Saturday for a team scrimmage at 4 p.m.
The Sun will kick off the BCFC regular season Aug. 5 in Kamloops.
Back to back GOLD! Huge congrats to our guy and on their Gold Medal at the Word Junior Championship
香蕉视频直播� Okanagan Sun (@okanagan_sun)
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