AUBURN — A Saco rink manager will take over Auburn’s dual ice rink, Norway Savings Bank Arena, later this month.

City Manager Clinton Deschene announced Friday that the city had hired Tim Holden as the arena’s new manager.

“He’s a Maine-based resident with a lot of experience in the field,” Deschene said.

Holden is scheduled to start May 27. He is the arena manager at Saco’s Maine Hockey Group Ice Centre, where he coordinates ice rentals, sales, marketing, budgets and programming. He’s also listed is part of the team management for the Portland Junior Pirates hockey program there.

According to a City of Auburn news release, Holden started his career in 1993 at North Yarmouth Academy as a Zamboni driver. He was later appointed assistant manager of that rink.

Holden is also a USA Hockey referee with experience coaching the sport at North Yarmouth Academy, Deering High School and the Portland Junior Pirates.

Josh MacDonald, former manager of the Auburn dual area, stepped down in March after nine months on the job to take a similar position at an arena in New Jersey.

MacDonald was the first manager of the arena, which opened in the fall.

Public Works Director Denis D’Auteuil has been the acting arena manager since MacDonald left.

The first rink and the arena’s locker rooms opened in November 2013. The second surface and the second-floor mezzanine — with warm areas for spectators, offices and concessions — opened in February.

The arena is on Turner Street near the Auburn Mall and overlooks Shaw’s Supermarket and Center Street. The facility includes a 380-space parking lot.

It was built to the city’s specifications by developer George Schott, who is renting it to the city. It’s part of a city enterprise fund and is meant to be self-supporting, paying for its operations with its own advertising and ice-rental revenues.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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