Football season is around the corner in the Harbour City, and the excitement is building after a promising glimpse of what the 2025 version of the Vancouver Island Raiders could look like.
Over the course of a high-energy three-day spring camp last weekend, May 2-4, players and coaches gathered in Nanaimo to lay the foundation for the season ahead.
The weekend was capped off by the team holding its annual intrasquad scrimmage, which was won by Team Cheng, 35-14. Team Cheng’s defence was the star of show, scoring more touchdowns than it allowed.
At the top of the V.I. Raiders' priority list is finding a new starting quarterback. The candidates are between Brayden Jupe, a Parksville product returning to the Island after playing U Sports football with York, and promising rookie Zach Golab from Terry Fox Secondary. The quarterback battle went back and forth, with both players showing flashes of potential. Golab finished the weekend strong, taking home offensive MVP of the scrimmage. The competition remains open and is expected to continue.
Sharing the backfield is a talented group of running backs featuring Owen Giancola, Rhondé Lyle, Tal Ibrahim and others. Head coach Shawn Arabsky spoke highly of the running backs, calling them the most complete group on the team and saying “any one of the three backs could go for 150 in a game.”
The wide receiver room is loaded, and the team continues to add talent at the position. Ruben Bonsu returns to the Raiders after a breakout 2024 season in which he led the B.C. Football Conference in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns. Parker Moscrip also made his presence felt thought out all three days of spring camp, bringing versatility and physicality. The Raiders are very high on Alex Walters who joins the team this season after playing university football at both Laurier and Saint Mary’s, and returning vets include Blaze McCarty and Harman Ahuja.
Like most teams, the Raiders will go as far as their offensive line takes them. Leading the unit once again will be centre Jake Giokas, whom Arabsky described as an “absolute beast." The coaching staff also spoke highly of Rocco Linklater, a rookie out of Winnipeg. The Raiders have done a good job capitalizing on their rights to global players, signing offensive tackle Ole Krebs and offensive guard Mateo Josipivoc from European leagues.
Switching to the other side of the trenches, the defensive line brought the energy and was very disruptive during the scrimmage, led by Tani Wisdom who was the best player on the field with three sacks and an interception. Although he wasn’t able to attend camp, the Raiders are very high on Calvin Broussard, a three-time NAIA all-conference defensive end from Texas.
Coming off a solid rookie season, Colton Finstad took his place in the middle of the defence, while Kaleb Charlton lined up at his weakside linebacker spot. The team also came away from the weekend very impressed with Max Shippam from Winnipeg who was awarded the defensive player of the scrimmage after recording six tackles, a sack, and a deflection that led to an interception.
Arguably the most open competition on the team is in the secondary, with the one mainstay being all-Canadian Felice Toscano lining up at boundary corner once again in 2025. A new addition that made a big splash was safety Israel Waitman from Colorado, who Arabsky said brings “elite traits” to the position.
For the Raiders, spring camp is all about elevating talent and determining how each piece may fit onto the team. With camp now complete, the coaching staff will review the film from camp and begin making decisions on the final roster. Until main camp in July the Raiders will continue practising on a weekly basis with the players currently in town. The season kicks off in mid July.
