Wanderers add edgy winger Ryan Telfer

Halifax Wanderers fans may remember Ryan Telfer as the player who shushed them during one game, and, in another, received a red card for a tackle before flipping off the referee.

Now a Wanderer, fans may grow to love this villain.

“I think he’s one of those players who you want on your side, versus against you,” said Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan. “He does play on the edge a little bit, but I think at the end of the day, it’s just passion.” 

The club announced the signing of the left winger on Wednesday. The Wanderers finished third in the CPL last season, finishing 13 points behind first-placed Calgary’s Cavalry FC.

“The sky is probably the limit for this team,” said Telfer, who is moving on from Miami FC of the USL Championship league.

Telfer shushed the Halifax crowd after scoring a 1-0 goal for Atlético Ottawa in the 20th minute of a game on Aug. 2, 2021. The Wanderers would go on to win the game 2-1 after Telfer’s goal.

His red card came weeks later, on Aug. 29, 2021, in a 2-2 draw.

Anthony Abbott of the Down the Pub podcast, a show focusing on the Wanderers, said with the lack of left-footed players on the squad, Telfer’s ability and experience are needed.

“When you look beneath the drama, you understand why they’ve done it, and he’s a really, really good player,” said Abbott “And he’s powerful. He’s got a lot of pace. He scores goals.”

“He’ll be good from the get-go,” he said.

The 29-year-old Mississauga, Ont., native will return to the CPL for the first time since 2021, when he played 17 matches for Atlético Ottawa. The Trinidad and Tobago international winger has played professionally since 2017, scoring 24 goals. He played 20 games for Toronto FC of the MLS in 2018 and 2019. Telfer is familiar with Wanderers captain Andre Jesse Rampersad, who both play for the Trinidadian national team.

Last year, the Wanderers had the second youngest side in the league, with an average age of 23.3. Telfer’s wealth of experience could help fill the side’s needs along with his ability to “change games.”

“Understanding the different times and understanding the ups and downs of the game and knowing how to manage that, knowing how to manage emotions,” said Telfer. “That’s the major thing.”