Michael Beveridge, 56, USM men’s hockey coach

More than 200 people gathered last weekend to honor and celebrate the life of Michael Beveridge. Beveridge, an assistant coach of men’s hockey at the University of Southern Maine, died of prostate cancer on October 27th. He was 56 years old.

It was very touching, his sister Debbie Glidden said of the USM memorial on Sunday. I was very moved. It was great to see so many people come to show their respects. People came from everywhere. It touched my heart endlessly.

Beveridge, who lives in Gorham and is affectionately known as Bevin, was remembered as a true friend of USM hockey and that he had a positive impact on hundreds of hockey players in the South Maine region.

Beveridge joined the USM Men’s Hockey Program in 1988 as a part-time statistician. He spent nine seasons as an assistant coach where he was when he died.

EdMing, head coach of USM’s men’s hockey program, said it was a big loss for the South Maine hockey community. He said Beveridge dedicated his life to mentoring young hockey players in Southern Maine. The players loved and respected him, Harding said.

He was a dedicated and trusted member of the South Maine coaching staff, Harding said. He was kind of my compass. I may tend to go for the handle every now and then and I can call him to get an idea of ​​him. Id say, “Where am I wrong?” He would tell me. We disagreed on some things. I respect him. I respect his opinion. I respect the fact that he wasn’t afraid to talk to me.

Former USM hockey player Jimmy Currier expressed his disbelief on Facebook after hearing about Beveridge’s death.

“Bev was the heart and soul of the program,” Currier said in a Facebook message on Wednesday. – He always did his best to help all the guys. We were like boys he never had, and he treated us like a family. Whenever one of us needed something, he was the first to help. Even after I left South Maine and moved to the state of Salem. He called and checked in all the time. The world is a better place thanks to people like Bev.

Beveridge grew up in Portland, the eldest of two children, Irene DeBarrin and Burton L. Beveridge. He graduated in 1983 from Deering High School. He studied at the University of Maine.

From 1994 to 2003, Beveridge worked for Portland Sea Dogs as a statistical analyst and official scorer.

“The numbers were his thing,” his sister said. “He loved baseball. He loved being there. It was awesome.”

Beveridge also ran the scoreboard at the Portland Ice Arena for several years in the men’s league and high school games. Harding said he was highly regarded in the hockey community.

“So many people in Portland knew him,” Harding said. “They all had to talk to Bev. He needed to know the lineups.”

Beveridge was remembered as a fun and caring person who always thought of others. He was known for giving players money for food. When they tried to pay him back, he politely refused.

One of his longtime friends, Meghan Powers of Scarborough, said Beveridge is a kind person and a good friend to many. Powers said he had a positive impact on the lives of his children.

She made my kids feel special, Powers said. When my son decided to try hockey, he was here when Evan opened the equipment box. He taught him to dress the goods and tie the skates properly. Evan would sit next to him in the USM home hockey matches. He really taught Evan about the game.

Beveridge lost his mother in March due to COVID-19 complications. Glidden, who is from Cape Elizabeth, said Wednesday that the departure of his brother is a huge loss to him and to his husband James and their sons Brody, 16, and Alex, 22.

“As the brothers do, he teased me, but he was always there to protect me,” his sister said. “He was pretty special. There’s a really deep sadness there.”

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