The Saint John Wanderers learned a few things in their Maritime Football League season-opening 15-8 victory over the Moncton Mustangs last Saturday.

First, the Mustangs are thoroughbreds who will be in the MFL championship conversation come playoff time. Second, the Wanderers’ defence can hold the fort when their high-octane offence isn’t chugging on all cylinders. And third, the team’s ideology that covets youth and experience will not be compromised with an unprecedented eighth consecutive Maritime Bowl appearance in the offing.

“All that’s so true,” said Wanderers’ president Scott McNamee. “There is a reason why we have played in seven straight finals and are gunning for an eighth – football is built into our lifestyles and has become a year-long proposition. You will lose a game here and there, but we’re not going to give anything up easily – that’s not the Wanderers’ way. What we do on the football field is no accident.”

Next up for the Wanderers (1-0) is a 1 p.m. Saturday matinee against Halifax Harbour Hawks (1-0) at the Canada Games Stadium. Other games feature the Southern NB Ducks (0-1) at Moncton’s Rocky Stone Field to play the Mustangs (0-1) on Friday at 8 p.m. and the Island Mariners (1-0) visiting Cole Harbour Turf Field to play the Nova Scotia Buccaneers at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The season opener against Moncton was a prime example of how the Wanderers employ a mix of young players and veterans:

·        Third-year running back Evan Arnold scored both touchdowns, including a fourth-quarter TD with Saint John trailing 8-7;

·        The game ball went to veteran linebacker and defensive captain Dan Oliver while player-of-the-game honours went to defensive back Alex McGarvey, a perennial MFL all-star who had an interception and 11 tackles, including a game-saver when he brought down Moncton wide receiver Leslie Greene two yards from end zone with 1.7 seconds on the clock.

“I say this over and over: our success is attributed to the veterans who mentor the younger guys,” said McNamee, “and you see the impact that has in practices and games.

“It all circles back to head coach J.J. Joudry and assistants Mike McGarvey and Chris Gallant. These guys go above and beyond to ensure everyone is where they need to be come game day. They do an unbelievable job getting this team ready from one season to the next. They make the decisions on who starts and that’s the most difficult thing for us - we have some veterans who aren’t starting, at times, because of the young talent on our roster. We put the best product we can on the field each and every week.”

McNamee is most excited about a youth movement that includes Arnold, Colin Sleigh, Daniel Bell and others who benefit from the advancement of provincial youth and high school systems.

“Football players are getting better,” said McNamee. “Their knowledge, at a comparable age, is broader than in past years. By the time these kids reach the MFL, they are game ready and will make a difference for years to come.”

McNamee said the Wanderers’ mix of youth and veterans will be ready, able and willing to man up against the Harbour Hawks.

“Halifax… Halifax will be good, but I assure you we won’t take our foot off the gas until the final whistle blows,” he said. “We want players running to the ball, running through the ball – we want to be the top dogs this year and for years to come. It’s an attitude we have developed and it’s starting to show in the young guys.”