Shauna Neary

Shauna Neary
Alma materMount Allison University[1]
OccupationsIce hockey referee, hockey coach[2]
Known forOfficiating at the 2026 Winter Olympics[3]
AwardsHockey Canada Officiating Program Branch Award: Most Deserving (2021); Hal Lewis Award (2022)[4][2]

Shauna Neary is a Canadian ice hockey referee from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, who has officiated in Canadian university and national-level competition, International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) events, and professional leagues including the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She was selected by the IIHF as one of the Canadian referees for women’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.[3]

Personal life

Neary has been described by Hockey Nova Scotia and local media as being from Antigonish, Nova Scotia.[4][2][5] Hockey Canada lists her as being from Herring Cove, Nova Scotia, in its official announcements and IIHF licensing lists,[3][6] and Sport Nova Scotia also lists her as being from Herring Cove in its Support4Sport awards materials.[7][8]

Neary graduated from Mount Allison University in 2008 and played as a goaltender for the Mount Allison Mounties women's hockey program.[1] She married Jess Healy on August 23, 2014, whom she met while coaching at a hockey camp in 2005.[9] In 2026, media coverage of her Olympic assignment identified her as the mother of a son named Charlie.[10]

Officiating career

Neary has officiated in U Sports women’s hockey and served in leadership and development roles in Nova Scotia, including as referee-in-chief for the Metro West Force Female Hockey Association. She has also been involved with the Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Program and worked as an assistant coach with the Dalhousie Tigers women’s hockey team.[2]

International assignments

Neary officiated at the 2019 IIHF Women's World Championship Division III tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2019.[4] She later worked the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship in Calgary, Alberta.[11] In 2024–25, she was among Canadian officials licensed by the IIHF for international competition.[6]

Neary was assigned to games in the Rivalry Series in 2021.[11] In February 2025, she officiated at the Group I women’s final Olympic qualification tournament in Germany.[12]

Professional leagues

Neary has officiated in the PWHL, wearing uniform number 49.[13] She was also listed on the PWHL’s officiating roster for the 2025–26 season.[14]

2026 Winter Olympics

Neary was selected by the IIHF as one of the Canadian referees for women’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.[3] During the tournament, she was assigned to officiate games in the women’s Olympic hockey competition, including a preliminary round matchup between Sweden and Germany on February 5, 2026.[5] She was also reported to be among the referees working the women’s Olympic tournament in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.[10]

Awards and honours

  • 2021 Hockey Canada Officiating Program Branch Award: Most Deserving (Hockey Nova Scotia)[4]
  • 2022 Hal Lewis Award (Hockey Nova Scotia Official of the Year)[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "1980s–2020s Class Connections (Summer 2021)". Mount Allison University. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Neary wins 2022 Hal Lewis Award". Hockey Nova Scotia. July 18, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d Coulter, Shannon (August 12, 2025). "Officials named for 2026 Olympic Winter Games". Hockey Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "Antigonish's Shauna Neary wins Most Deserving official award". Hockey Nova Scotia. May 24, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Antigonish Native and Hockey Referee Shauna Neary to Officiate Her First Game at the Olympics Thursday". 989 XFM. February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Officials licensed for IIHF championships in 2024–25". Hockey Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  7. ^ "The 2022 Support4Sport Awards Finalists". Sport Nova Scotia. May 24, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  8. ^ "Nova Scotia's top athletes honoured at the 2022 Support4Sport Awards". Sport Nova Scotia. May 29, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  9. ^ "Jess and Shauna". The Coast. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "'We're here for the ref': Family travels to watch loved one's big moment as Olympic referee". WDSU. February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Neary and Hagen receive international officiating assignments". Hockey Nova Scotia. November 17, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  12. ^ "Shauna Neary of Antigonish will referee at the Group I Women's Ice Hockey Olympic Qualification Tournament in Germany this week". 989 XFM. February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  13. ^ "PWHL announces 2024–25 officiating team". Professional Women's Hockey League. October 17, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  14. ^ "PWHL announces officiating leadership department and team, rule changes for 2025–26 season". Professional Women's Hockey League. November 14, 2025. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
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