The Canadian Premier League has certainly put the word “coast” in Coast to Coast. Both sides of it. Pacific FC’s home opener in the fledgling CPL, the franchise’s first-ever game April 28 against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax at Westhills Stadium, will constitute the third-longest trip in the world between domestic league Premiership pro soccer clubs.
“It’s Pacific versus Atlantic,” said Josh Simpson, president of Pacific FC.
It will be the second game in league history, a day after the earlier-announced inaugural CPL game April 27 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., between host Forge FC and visiting York 9 from the Greater Toronto Area.
The other three charter franchises don’t begin play until the following week. The CPL announced the home-opening dates Friday for all its clubs. The full schedule will be released Wednesday.
The flight distance from Halifax to Victoria airports is 4,476 kilometres. That is bested, according to CPL sources, among domestic Premiership leagues only by the 5,255-km flight from West Australia to New Zealand for A-League games between the Perth Glory and Wellington Phoenix, and the 4,723-km distance in the Indonesian Liga 1 between Persatuan Sepakbola Medan dan Sekitarnya and Persipura Jayapura in Papua.
The Pacific FC and HFX fixture ranks third. The fourth-longest flight between Premiership clubs is the 4,208 km between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Orlando City in Major League Soccer.
The longest trip between pro soccer teams, however is the 7,360-kilometre trek undertaken between FC Luch Vladivostok and FC Baltika Kaliningrad in the Russian Second Division.
“We knew going in that travel was going to be an issue that any truly pan-Canadian pro soccer league has to deal with,” said Simpson. “Distance is the biggest challenge for all clubs in Canada. We’re running with it. It’s a different time now for travel than it was 20 years ago. That’s why it’s going to be feasible.”
The HFX Wanderers are coached by former Canadian national team head coach Stephen Hart, who also coached Trinidad and Tobago in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Simpson, a former European pro and Juan de Fuca soccer product with 43 caps for Canada, played for Hart on the national team.
“It’s going to be so cool going up against a Stephen Hart-coached team,” said Simpson.
“I am sure he is building up a special team with an interesting flair, because of some of the Trinidad and Tobago players HFX has signed.”
Pacific FC-signed striker Marcus Haber, who has 27 caps for Canada, has also played for Hart, but wouldn’t mind giving his former mentor a rough ride on the Westhills pitch after HFX’s long trip to the Island.
“It’s exciting for us to be able to play at home for the first game in front of our fans,” said Haber.
“Halifax is going to be an athletic group, full of strength and pace, and we anticipate a tough match but we will be looking for a win to get off to the right start.”
Pacific FC will be the opposition for FC Edmonton’s home opener May 12 at Clarke Stadium. The other home openers are May 4 with York 9 in Calgary to take on Calvary FC at Spruce Meadows; FC Edmonton at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg to play Valour FC; and Forge FC at the Wanderers Ground in Halifax. The final home opener is May 25 when York 9 hosts Forge FC.
Pacific FC has 11 players under contract, including Haber and
56-time Canada capped former MLS and Bundesliga pro Marcel de Jong.
