It’ll be something of a homecoming for a Calgary Stampeders player who was born in Ontario when he takes to the field next Saturday against the BC Lions at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl. 

Kelon Thomas’ football career has taken him across the country but some of his fondest memories are from when he played two seasons with the Okanagan Sun. 

“It’ll be sort of like a full circle moment for me, coming back to Kelowna. I’m really excited to get out there and soak in the moment,” Thomas, a 6’4”, 240 lb. defensive lineman, said Thursday in an interview from Calgary. 

“I loved the community, the brotherhood, that’s around the Sun,” Thomas said. “I met a lot of great people in Kelowna and my billet family, I still talk to them to this day. I’m glad I took the opportunity to come out to Kelowna, where I’d never been before. The team was very well-run, and being part of the Sun really helped me develop my football skills.”

In 2022, Thomas was named the outstanding defensive lineman in the BC Football Conference, recording an average of two tackles a game and just over one quarterback sack per game. He was a member of the Sun’s national title-winning team that same season. 

Thomas, who grew up in Scarborough, Ont., was signed by the Stamps in January 2023. His first game was against the Lions on June 8, 2023. 

Last year, he played in all of the Stamps’ 18 games, mostly on special teams, including the Western Semi-Final loss to BC in Vancouver. 

Thomas, 25, said he heard first from his grandmother back in Ontario last fall that the Stampeders would play the Lions in Kelowna. Next Saturday’s game, and one on July 4 against the Elks, were moved from Vancouver to to Kelowna because BC Place is being used for World Cup games 

The Apple Bowl’s capacity is currently being temporarily super-sized, with seating for about 20,000 in a stadium that normally has space for 2,300 spectators. Large bleachers, most recently used at the Montreal Grand Prix, are being assembled on three sides of the Apple Bowl, to complement the permanent grandstand. 

More seats were released this week, and indications are the games will be sold out. “I’m glad to hear it’s going to be packed out,” Thomas said. “I know for sure the whole Sun community will be out for the games, and they’ll probably get people in from Penticton and Kamloops too.”

Thomas hopes to have time to visit some of his favourite spots in Kelowna such as the Knox Mountain look-out, the City Park beach, and the Cactus Club restaurant on the downtown waterfront. But the main order of business, of course, is the game. 

“It’s the same state of mind for us every week, regardless of the location,” he said. “Kelowna’s a great location, but for us it’s all about getting the W.”