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AUGUSTA — The Skating Association of Maine will sponsor a hockey scholarship in memory of former Cony High School player and coach Dean Gardner, who died Dec. 31.
The scholarship was announced at on-ice ceremony honoring Gardner Jan. 20 held before the Cony/Hall-Dale/Monmouth hockey game against Lawrence/Skowhegan.
The scholarship will provide financial support to local hockey players in need of equipment and money to play the sport.
Gardner started playing hockey at age 7 and played three seasons for the Cony Rams, 1984 to 1987. He was named the MVP his senior season, but was known more as a true teammate, those who know him said.
He was also the head coach for Cony during the 1993-94 season.
Before the start of the Jan. 20 game, current and past Rams players took the ice to support the Gardner family, including Gardner’s mother, Arlene Gardner. The players and family watched as a banner was hung from the upper railing in Gardner’s memory. A plaque was also provided to the Gardner family and will be displayed at the Camden Nation Bank Ice Vault lobby.
Gardner, 48, is survived by a son, Loren M. Gardner of Auburn; his mother, Arlene M. (Glazier) Gardner of Augusta; three sisters: Diane L. Ouellette and her husband, Don, of Wells, Debra K. McMahon and her husband, Tom, of Augusta and Darlene L. St. Hilaire and her companion, Patrick Griffin, of Freeport, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donations to the Dean Gardner Memorial Scholarship Fund may be sent to the Skating Association of Maine at PO Box 5663, Augusta, ME 04332.
The Skating Association of Maine is an organization with more than 300 members. Its mission is to encourage and promote ice skating programs in the State of Maine. For more information, visit www.maineskaters.com.
PHOTO: From left, in front, Cony coach Shawn Johnson, Loren Gardner, Arlene Gardner, Debra McMahon and Holly McMahon-Hall. In back, Cony seniors Tyler Dostie, Avery Pomerleau, Dalton Bowie, Cole Lockhart, Logan Leadbetter and Riley Dowe. (Skating Association of Maine photo)
