Scott Gardiner of Brighton has been named Cleary University’s new head coach for the school’s hockey team.
Gardiner brings more than 20 years of hockey coaching experience to the university, which includes the USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League, the MWJHL (Midwest Junior Hockey League), the USHL (United States Hockey League), the NAHL (North American Hockey League), and the CEHL (Continental Elite Hockey League). Gardiner also was an assistant coach for Little Caesars Midget Major and an assistant coach for Belle Tire Midget Major.
Gardiner served as the head coach for Hartland High School’s hockey team from 1999 to 2001, and an assistant head coach for Howell High School’s hockey team.
Gardiner was named Coach of the Year twice at the junior level and has coached multiple championship teams.
“We are excited to have such a successful leader with extensive coaching experience as our new head hockey coach,” said Heather Bateman, Cleary’s vice president of Campus Operations and athletic director. “We believe his proven track record of building winning programs, his talents to help athletes perform at their highest level of potential and his hockey connections are key assets to building a strong hockey program at Cleary that will allow us to compete successfully in the WHAC and ACHA.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Cleary’s Division 1 and Division 3 hockey teams,” says Gardiner. “I have watched this program since its inception and know there is tremendous potential for our players to be top competitors in the ACHA and WHAC, and for Cleary to be known as a highly desired destination for quality student athletes. I am looking forward to helping build a great hockey program. There is a wealth of talent right here in our area, and I plan to begin recruiting locally as well as internationally, bringing in some players with junior league experience to Cleary.”
Gardiner was a hockey player himself, playing at the University of Windsor after the OHL. He played his way to a free agent tryout for the NHL’s New York Rangers.
The Cleary Cougars ACHA D1 hockey team will resume play on Friday, Jan. 6 against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils.
