PEI Privateers kick off this Saturday in Moncton

The PEI Privateers kick off their 2010 Maritime Football League season this Saturday in Moncton as part of the League’s 10th Anniversary celebrations. The Privateers will play Capital Area (Fredericton) Gladiators in the evening game of a 3 game football festival at Rocky Stone Memorial Field in Moncton. The Privateers defeated the Gladiators in their only meeting last year.

The MFL 10th Anniversary celebrations kick off at 1 PM with the Moncton Mustangs hosting the Dartmouth Knights. At 4 PM Saint John Wanderers battle the Halifax Shockers and the Privateers-Gladiators game gets underway at 8 PM. Between the games there will be live music by the band “Loaded Dice”, a BBQ and other festivities. The cost is $5 for the entire day and all proceeds from the day go to the Canadian Cancer Society.

The Privateers go into the game with a number of new players along with a new Head Coach as former Privateers captain Jan Wicherek is now patrolling the sidelines.

All-Star quarterback Chris “Tex” Mutch will have both a solid running game and an aerial attack at his disposal. The backfield will see last year’s top rusher Dave Clark supported by newcomer Ernesto Carranza and fullback Mike MacVane. PEI Tackle League MVP Jeff Hillier and 2009 MFL Receiver of the year Mitch Murphy will be two targets for Mutch’s passes. Both Hillier and Murphy were All-Stars last season. They will be joined this year by newcomer Josh Hamilton, a Mt. Allison football grad and veteran Jeremy Avery, both whom will be playing Tight End, and wideouts Justin Guillemette, Chris Dohbiggin, and Justin Murphy.

The offensive line is a mix of experience and new faces. Veterans Mark Green, Aaron MacIsaac, Derek James, and Tim Chen will be joined by a group of rookies from the New Brunswick football programs, former Saint John Longhorn Harrison Blizzard and Oromocto High School grad Matt Larocque. Alex Dickens also hails from NB and will play linebacker. Brian Tancowny, the new President of Football PEI will also be playing on the offensive line.

The Privateer defense will be anchored by long-time veterans Keegan Scott, Mike Miller, TeeJay Foley, and Richard Lush who has returned after his second year with the University of Manitoba Bisons. Ryan Richardson and Adam MacDonald lock down the corners.

There are a number of rookies on defense including rugby star Paul MacDonald, Cory Mugridge, Spencer Jay, Sebastian Ayangma and Thomas McCabe. The defensive line will miss three-time League All-Star Colin MacLeod but will call upon Donnie Mitchell and 2nd year players Kosala Gunathilaka and Bryan Champion to fill that void.

“We are solid on both sides of the ball this year,” says Wicherek. “It will just be a case of new players getting comfortable with their positions and establishing their roles.”

The Privateers will play Dartmouth on the road on June 12th before hosting the Halifax Shockers in their home opener on June 19th at UPEI.