Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
You know, the know, the last seven years of his life, my husband was so proud to be coaching tennis at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine. He would come home and talk about the building self-esteem he saw in those kids eyes, proud to be part of this community. Sports, he knew, represents a language that doesn't really know any boundaries. It's a universally understood celebration of competition, good sportsmanship, and different communities coming together for a game.
As James Earl Jones' character, Terance Mann, said in the movie Field of Dreams, people will "walk out to the bleachers and sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters."
The Hearts of Pine club have brought some of that magic to Maine in their wildly successful first year as a professional soccer team. The product of hard work by people like team owner and Lewiston native Tom Caron and founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, as well as players like Titus Washington, Ollie Wright, and Hunter Morse -- Brick wall in goal -- the Hearts of Pine have led the league in attendance this season, rising to 8th in the United Soccer League standings, and selling out game after game.
When I was at a Hearts of Pine game last month, I ran into Gabe Hoffman-Johnson. I told him that I was going to Nova Scotia soon to meet with Premier Houston to reaffirm our close partnership, despite the president's harsh rhetoric and harmful tariffs coming from Washington -- things that were discouraging Canadians from visiting Maine. Gabe said he'd love to issue a challenge to the Premier to have the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League come to Portland to play an international "friendly" match with the Hearts of Pine. Gabe knows, as I do, that soccer is not just about sports -- it's about community and relationship building.
Well, after meeting with Premier Houston and talking with him about international trade, and tourism, and fisheries, I gave him a Hearts of Pine Jersey and I laid down the gauntlet -- would the Halifax Wanderers play the Hearts of Pine in Portland, Maine? I was delighted a few days later when he accepted the challenge.
This historic match, which will be held on August 6th at Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium, promises to be an exciting one. While it won't solve all of our tourism and trade challenges, it will be another opportunity to strengthen the bonds between Canada and Maine that are so important to our enduring friendship, our historical cultures, and our economy.
This may be a "friendly" match, but I know that the Hearts of Pine will bring the same heart and soul that they've brought to every game to date this season. Like most Maine people, I am very proud of this team and I look forward to watching the match.
To learn more about the match on August 6, visit the Hearts of Pine website at heartsofpine.com.
Maine now boasts a professional basketball team, professional baseball, professional hockey, and professional soccer team. We have it all! In the pouring rain or on a perfect afternoon, with good food and good company, people of all ages can cheer on their heroes, inspired by the enthusiasm of players in Maine.
I look forward to seeing you at a game someday soon, side by side with your family and mine.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.