For Beck Fullerton and Ryan Ewashko, football is the tie that binds.
Since first playing community football together in Winnipeg well over a decade ago, the two have remained the closest of pals.
乌鸦传媒淲e just became best friends over the game, just the love of the game,乌鸦传媒� said Fullerton, 21. 乌鸦传媒淎ll we do is play Madden (NFL video game), talk about football and work out. It乌鸦传媒檚 been a football specific relationship for such a long time.乌鸦传媒�
Not surprisingly, football has helped reunite the two defensive backs, who both took to the field last weekend at the Okanagan Sun乌鸦传媒檚 2017 spring camp.
A BC Football Conference all-star last year and a key leader on defense, Fullerton is heading into his fifth and final season with the Sun.
Ewashko attended the Sun乌鸦传媒檚 spring camp three years ago but a job opportunity pushed him to put his football career on hold.
Now, in his final year of junior football eligibility, Ewashko is excited about the prospects of returning to Kelowna and playing football again with his closest friend.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 so nice to come back, a great atmosphere, I think it乌鸦传媒檚 the best place in Canada to be, and I love the Sun family,乌鸦传媒� said Ewashko, who trains with Fullerton during the off-season. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 excited to be with (Beck) again for his last year here, and my last chance to play, too.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 trying to learn from Beck, picking his brain as much as I can,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 an amazing player and knows the game so well.乌鸦传媒�
Despite Ewashko being at arm乌鸦传媒檚 length from football for a couple of seasons, Fullerton is confident his friend has all the tools to adapt.
乌鸦传媒淗e has the skill, the brain, we乌鸦传媒檝e just got to put it together,乌鸦传媒� Fullerton said of Ewashko, a league all-star in his last season of high school football in Winnipeg. 乌鸦传媒淗e hasn乌鸦传媒檛 played football for a couple of years but it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 show out there.
乌鸦传媒淗e was making a lot of plays (at spring camp) and doing really well for himself.乌鸦传媒�
Fullerton believes his game will also benefit from Ewashko乌鸦传媒檚 presence, input and support.
乌鸦传媒淭he chemistry is always there, I know I can trust him, I know he understands what he needs to do,乌鸦传媒� Fullerton said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 nice to have that little bit of extra support from your best friend, just pushing you day-in and day-out.乌鸦传媒�
As for Fullerton乌鸦传媒檚 role this season, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound defensive back knows he乌鸦传媒檒l be relied on by the coaching staff, both on and off the field.
乌鸦传媒淚 definitely feel like I乌鸦传媒檓 in a different role that requires a lot more responsibility, I乌鸦传媒檝e met with coaches about it, they乌鸦传媒檝e helped me along and shown me the ropes,乌鸦传媒� Fullerton said. 乌鸦传媒淚 think I乌鸦传媒檓 taking it in stride, I乌鸦传媒檓 just doing my best to keep everyone fired up, high energy and just happy乌鸦传媒f you乌鸦传媒檙e happy on the field, you乌鸦传媒檙e making plays and it乌鸦传媒檚 good for everyone.乌鸦传媒�
If all goes as planned, Ewashsko will join Fullerton on the club乌鸦传媒檚 opening night roster when the Sun hosts the Westshore Rebels on Saturday, July 29 at the Apple Bowl.
