PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) — Governor Janet Mills says Maine will welcome the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League for an international \u201cfriendly\u201d match with Maine\u2019s pro soccer team, the Portland Hearts of Pine, next month at Portland’s Fitzpatrick Stadium.<\/p>\n
Governor Mills claims this match is a result of her mission to Atlantic Canada in June, during which she discussed hosting the international \u201cfriendly\u201d match with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston during their bilateral meeting in Halifax.<\/p>\n
This is the first international match for the Portland Hearts of Pine, which is celebrating its inaugural season in the United Soccer League.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am thrilled to welcome the Halifax Wanderers to Maine for this historic match with the Hearts of Pine, which shows the strength of the historic friendship between the people of Maine and Atlantic Canada,\u201d said Governor Mills. \u201cI wish to thank Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston for his gracious hospitality during my visit last month, which we look forward to extending to the Wanderers in August. I also thank the leadership of the Hearts of Pine for their extraordinary efforts to bring this match to Maine in support of stronger international ties.\u201d<\/p>\n
The game is on August 6. The kickoff time is 6:30 p.m. The game is sold out, except for a limited number of tickets for Halifax supporters.<\/p>\n
Last month, Governor Mills visited New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to reaffirm Maine\u2019s ties with Atlantic Canada, and to promote Maine as a great place to visit and do business.<\/p>\n
Maine’s economy is deeply intertwined with Canada’s, and last year, the state traded more than $6 billion in goods with its northern neighbor.<\/p>\n