For 40-plus returning members of the , the last memory of the 2016 season wasn乌鸦传媒檛 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乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 in the past.

乌鸦传媒淭here might be some carry over from that game, we feel like they didn乌鸦传媒檛 necessarily beat us as much we allowed that to happen,乌鸦传媒� said Macauley. 乌鸦传媒淏ut that乌鸦传媒檚 in the past. It乌鸦传媒檚 a big rivalry and the guys are excited to play them and get the season under way.

乌鸦传媒淲e don乌鸦传媒檛 want to place too much importance on this game, it乌鸦传媒檚 our first and we乌鸦传媒檙e not going to base our whole season on it,乌鸦传媒� Macauley added. 乌鸦传媒淥f course we want to come out and play well, but it乌鸦传媒檚 about getting better and improving with each week.乌鸦传媒�

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 乌鸦传媒渘ight and day.乌鸦传媒�

Fifth-year linebacker Eli Haynes is on board with his head coach.

乌鸦传媒淭hings have been better this season from the get-go,乌鸦传媒� said Haynes, one of the key leaders on the Sun defense this season. 乌鸦传媒淭he (coaches) did a great job of recruiting, the guys they brought in are all really good guys and have all fit in well.

乌鸦传媒淲e had a good training camp, we乌鸦传媒檝e prepared well, so we乌鸦传媒檙e excited to get at it.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淭here a lot of new faces there we don乌鸦传媒檛 know a lot about, it乌鸦传媒檚 hard to know what to expect, but we do expect them to be competitive,乌鸦传媒� Macauley said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e playing against the defending champs, so it乌鸦传媒檒l be a good gauge for us to see where we stand.乌鸦传媒�

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乌鸦传媒檚 annual rankings of the top 50 players in the country.

The players selected and their overall ranking:

乌鸦传媒� 27乌鸦传媒擟onor Richard, linebacker

乌鸦传媒� 35乌鸦传媒擝eck Fullerton, defensive back

乌鸦传媒� 39乌鸦传媒擡li Haynes, linebacker

乌鸦传媒� 43乌鸦传媒擟ory McCoy, defensive line

乌鸦传媒� 47乌鸦传媒擝rendan Hansen, running back