Okanagan Sun grad Kyle Patchell will play football next season for the Manitoba Bisons.

Okanagan Sun grad Kyle Patchell will play football next season for the Manitoba Bisons.

Kyle Patchell commits to Bisons

Graduating Okanagan Sun receiver to move to Winnipeg to play Canada West football

Coming off his last and best season with the Okanagan Sun, Kyle Patchell is taking his football talents to the next level.

The 22-year-old Kelowna product has signed on with the University of Manitoba Bisons for the 2016 Canada West season.

Patchell is excited to be joining a program he has become familiar with during his years with the Sun.

“There’s been a longstanding connection with Manitoba and the Okanagan Sun,” said Patchell. “I have played with tons of guys from Manitoba over my career with the Sun.

“I also know quite a few guys that have gone on to play for the Bisons after playing for the Sun, including quarterback Theo Deezar. So that was definitely a factor in my decision.”

Patchell capped off his five-year BCFC career in style in 2016, catching 47 passes for 697 yards five touchdowns during the regular season.

He raised his play to another level in the playoffs, catching a team record 11 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns in the conference semifinal against Kamloops.

In the Canadian Bowl, despite the Sun’s 38-24 loss to Saskatoon, Patchell was stellar with a record-tying nine receptions for 110 yards and a major.

Over his last four games in Sun colours, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound receiver caught an eye-popping 35 passes for 529 yards and five touchdowns.

Bison receivers coach Blair Atkinson said Patchell will be a welcome addition to the Winnipeg-based program.

“Kyle will add a veteran presence to our core of young receivers,” Atkinson said. “He is a polished receiver who can find the hole across the middle and make tough contested catches.”

Although currently undecided, Patchell is considering enrolling the business program at the U of Manitoba.

He is the sixth Sun player to commit to a Canada West team since the end of the 2015 season.

 

 

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