About
FMC Ice Sports Skating Programs at Gardner Veterans Arena include public skating, ice rental, skating lessons and programs, and hockey leagues. The arena offers skating time for groups such as North Central MA Youth Hockey, Gardner High School, and the Gilles Richard Senior Hockey League. The facility also offers party room access, a snack bar, skate rentals, Wi-Fi, and skate sharpening.
• Schedule: Public skating and hockey activities are scheduled throughout the day, including public skating blocks from 11:00AM–1:00PM and 1:00PM–3:00PM, followed by youth, high school, and senior league hockey in the late afternoon and evening.
• Price: Public Skating: $10.00. Skate Rentals: $10.00. Ice Rental: $275 (50 minutes) or $330 (60 minutes).
FMC Ice Sports has operated the arena for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) since 1995 and was formed in 1992. FMC Ice Sports currently operates twenty-one DCR skating arenas on 25-year capital improvement leases that began in June 2002 and also manages three municipal arenas in Massachusetts and a college arena. The program is led locally by Katie Bedard, Fitchburg & Gardner Program Director, and William Buck, General Manager.
FMC states that it exists to make the community a better place one skater at a time by delivering personalized customer service, programs that promote positive experiences, and clean, well-maintained facilities at the lowest possible cost. FMC Ice Sports is described as an innovative leader of public recreational facility management and the largest operator of public ice skating arenas in the country, with experience in contract management and consultation services. The Gardner Veterans Arena is part of a public/private partnership in which public skating facilities are mandated to be self-supportive with no taxpayer funds used for operation or capital improvement, and a portion of every dollar generated is dedicated to support other governmental programs and services.
Last updated January 26, 2026.
• Schedule: Public skating and hockey activities are scheduled throughout the day, including public skating blocks from 11:00AM–1:00PM and 1:00PM–3:00PM, followed by youth, high school, and senior league hockey in the late afternoon and evening.
• Price: Public Skating: $10.00. Skate Rentals: $10.00. Ice Rental: $275 (50 minutes) or $330 (60 minutes).
FMC Ice Sports has operated the arena for the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) since 1995 and was formed in 1992. FMC Ice Sports currently operates twenty-one DCR skating arenas on 25-year capital improvement leases that began in June 2002 and also manages three municipal arenas in Massachusetts and a college arena. The program is led locally by Katie Bedard, Fitchburg & Gardner Program Director, and William Buck, General Manager.
FMC states that it exists to make the community a better place one skater at a time by delivering personalized customer service, programs that promote positive experiences, and clean, well-maintained facilities at the lowest possible cost. FMC Ice Sports is described as an innovative leader of public recreational facility management and the largest operator of public ice skating arenas in the country, with experience in contract management and consultation services. The Gardner Veterans Arena is part of a public/private partnership in which public skating facilities are mandated to be self-supportive with no taxpayer funds used for operation or capital improvement, and a portion of every dollar generated is dedicated to support other governmental programs and services.
Last updated January 26, 2026.
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