The Sudbury U18 Jr Spartans hit the field with something to prove this spring.

The motivation that underlies that sentiment may differ between a couple of different factions of the squad - but this is a group that is galvanized by that common goal of proving that summer football in Sudbury is anything but common.

The returnees from the 2023 U18 crew, a team that finished with a 3-3 record and were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs, are looking forward to the fact that they have graduated just nine players from that roster, with loads of experience at this level back in place for 2024.

They are now joined by a second core, the likes of Paolo Grossi and others who were part of the magical U16 run of 2022 that culminated with an OSFL (Ontario Summer Football League) Championship banner, teens who have now aged up.

With the band reassembled, they would like nothing more than to do it all over again.

And for those newcomers to the Jr Spartans mix, there is always the need simply to prove that they belong.

All of the above has coach Alex Vendramin more than a little excited to put practice into play on (Saturday) May 18th, the day the team travels south to open pre-season action opposite the Toronto Jr Argos at Esther Shriner Civic Stadium.

"It's a great feeling to see real football happening again," exclaimed Vendramin, Wednesday evening after practice. "We're finally in pads, finally outside. We had a few sessions in the dome where we were able to install a few plays, which made it a fairly smooth transition."

"The guys are eager and working really hard," added Vendramin. "We're trying to hammer out some X's and O's, shake off a little rust. Come the 18th, we'll be ready to rock."

While the valuable experience of 2023 (the first year in which the Jr Spartans fielded a U18 entry in the OSFL) should be apparent pretty much everywhere on the field, Vendramin is looking to a couple of critical groupings for that step forward that could lead to a lengthier playoff run.

"Our offensive line has had that full year to work with one another, so you're seeing some real chemistry being built there," he said. "Those guys who have played in the system, they know how things work so we're seeing them work up to second level a little bit faster."

"Our (defensive) front seven is going to be stout," Vendramin continued. "Dan (coach Dan Yoisten) has been working with them for some time and they all know his scheme - and we're getting some big players from the U16 team that have graduated up."

"And we have an insane amount of speed on the outside (receivers)."

A first team all-star linebacker with the Lively Hawks, returnee Chris Dore doesn't get too bogged down on schemes. He prefers to simplify football to its core elements.

"Come out here and smack somebody in the mouth - that's all I've got to say," Dore stated emphatically. "That's Spartans football."

Still, there is a technical aspect to the game that certainly does not escape him - even if not everything plays out the way it is drawn up on the chalk board.

"It's a weird sport," Dore said with a laugh. "Everyone is everywhere and something random can happen, but you know you've got to be somewhere," he said. "Just know what you're doing."

That, of course, might mean something a little different depending upon the opponent across the line.

"The Bay of Quinte (Quinte Skyhawks) have some big O linemen," explained Dore, speaking to one of his preferred adversaries. "I like to get around them, get in between them. That's fun - probably my favourite part of the game."

"You get around them with speed."

The U18 Jr Spartans will play host to a pre-season game on May 25th, welcoming the Huronia Stallions to town before starting regular season play a week later (June 1st), on the road, against the York Lions.