Photos courtesy of AllSportMedia.ca

In 2024, the Westshore Rebels were one win away from clinching the BC Conference Cullen Cup and a berth in the CJFL National Semi-Final game.  They were the third seed heading into the Canadian Bowl playoffs before scoring an upset semi-final win advancing to the Conference title game.

Coming into the new CJFL season, the Rebels have a new leader at the top as Connor Bryan has taken the helm and has been busy filling out his roster for 2025.  He inherits a great core of returning players including a pair of Rebels that are CJFL Players to Watch.

On the offensive side receiver Zion Brown returns for his third season and is looking for another productive year after last season where he led the Rebels making 45 catches for 785 yards and four touchdowns.  Despite his outstanding 2024 campaign, one of his goals is to be a consistent weapon for the Rebels, “I just want to give my all week in and week out, and help the team succeed in any way I can.”

The Nova Scotia native has shown he can be a dangerous player each time he straps on the pads and does not take anything for granted, “My most memorable CJFL moment would honestly be every time I get the chance to step on the field, whether it’s practice or game day. My first day on Vancouver Island was very memorable going to the team workout and having the feeling of how welcoming everyone was to both my family, and I really meant a lot.”

Brown’s strength is his ability to read the game and coverage before it happens and has outstanding hands.  During this offseason, he has had plenty of motivation after falling one win short of the Cullen Cup last season and he has been preparing for another playoff push this year, “This offseason, my focus has been making sure my body is fully ready for the season. Staying healthy, feeling good, and doing whatever it takes to be at 100% all year long.”

Over on the defensive side Manny Fotiou also comes into his third season on the Rebels defensive line. He’s proven to be a handful for the opposing opposition after 32 solo tackles last season, four assists, half a sack and two batted balls.  He’s a big, fast lineman and during this offseason he has focused on building up his power with various upper body exercises and has worked on his explosiveness.

He has a very clear-cut individual and team goal this season, “My individual goal this year is to be an All-Canadian and for our team goal it would be to have an undefeated season because I believe we have the guys to do so.  Our goal as a defensive unit is to be one of best defenses in the BC Conference.”

To be a successful defensive lineman, a player must have a strong sense of anticipation and the ability to read the offensive alignment as they come to the line of scrimmage, something that Fotiou excels at, “My biggest strength is my vision in the run game and my power to get off the blocks quickly to recognize and see where the run is going.”

After playing in the CJFL Canadian Bowl in 2023 and last year’s upset playoff win at Langley, Fotiou is preparing his body for the physicality for a long playoff run in 2025.  This season the winner of the Cullen Cup in BC will host the CJFL National Semi-Final game, a contest he has every intention of being in. 

The Rebels will open the new season on the road in Prince George on July 19th against the Kodiaks. Keep your eyes on Zion Brown and Manny Fotiou, a pair of CJFL Players to Watch in 2025.