The VI Raiders made significant improvements in 2024 and the club expects to continue their progress this summer. Coach Shawn Arabsky says their recruiting is already 90-95 percent done. (Paul M. Williams Photography/Island Sports News)

By Dan Marshall

Raiders Retooling

Raiders building roster to take a step forward in 2025

Mar 23, 2025 | 6:52 AM

NANAIMO — The VI Raiders made major strides in 2024 and the expectation is progress even further this upcoming season.

After an 0-10 campaign in 2023 the Raiders finished 4-6 last year.

Head coach Shawn Arabsky was encourage by the results especially late in the season.

“Last year was definitely a step forward for the organization,” Arabsky said. “We missed our goal of playoffs but it was the next best thing to have three straight wins to finish the year.”

The Raiders have been amassing talent for their upcoming BCFC season and Arabsky is pleased with how well it’s gone.

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I think we have one of the best recruiting classes in Canada and we’re looking to add more guys everyday. We’ve got players coming from all over the world. Regina’s a big one, we have two kids coming from Germany, a D lineman coming from the UK, another free safety coming up from Colorado and guys from other places across Canada.”

Vancouver Island talent is always important for the Raiders program and the team is pleased once again to have some local newcomers.

“We’ve got Aiden Knudsen from Comox, Chris Ciccone from NDSS and Sowani Nakuna from Barsby. These are all players we’re really excited about right now.”

Aside from adding new faces on the field the team has also bolstered their coaching staff for 2025.

“We added Terrek Bryant who played at Ballenas and for the Raiders. He will be our GM and special teams co-ordinator. Trevor Bowles is our O line coach, and Jeremy Chang is back helping the team and he was the head coach of Football Nanaimo last year. We’ve been able to add some really good coaches this year.”

Raiders spring camp is slated for May 2-4 and main camp will begin on July 3.

However the players who are already in Nanaimo are preparing already.

“We’ve in the gym three days a week and on the field two days a week,” Arabsky noted. “It’s being run like a university football team and that’s the standard we’re holding it too. We’re very excited about where we’re going and about the buy we’re getting from the players.”

Recruiting is mostly done with just a few spots left to shore up before the season starts.

Arabsky believes his team can do more than make the playoffs, they can be a championship contender as well.

“We’re going to start with winning a day at a time and a game at a time. Our goal is to win a national championship. That’s the standard whether it’s now or the year after.”

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