Annual Awards

Thank you for all that you do

We know that our game would not be possible without incredible contributions from everyday Nova Scotians.

So each year, we hand out dozens of awards to several deserving members of our hockey family to say thanks.

Our long list of annual awards can be found below.

If you would like to nominate someone for one of these awards, you can do so by completing our online awards form.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION

To apply for the Bill Riley Award, please click here.

Deadline: April 15, 2025.

Hockey Nova Scotia Award of Merit

The Hockey Nova Scotia Award of Merit is presented to an individual who has served hockey faithfully over many years, participating in any capacity (player, coach, official, manager, trainer, volunteer etc.). Through their service, the individual has made a significant contribution to the game, its players, coaches, officials and volunteers.

The recipient is selected by the Hockey Nova Scotia Board of Directors.

Individuals may be nominated by Hockey Nova Scotia Board, councils, and staff members.

Hockey Nova Scotia Minor Council Award of Merit

Each year, the officers of Hockey Nova Scotia Minor Council search the province for deserving recipients of this award.

The award, considered the most prestigious that a person in Minor Hockey can receive, is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to Minor Hockey in Nova Scotia.

Hockey Nova Scotia Female Council Award of Merit

In 2008, the Hockey Nova Scotia Female Council established this award. It is presented annually in recognition of a deserving individual who has made a significant impact in promoting female hockey in Nova Scotia.

Female Council accepts nominations from all areas of female hockey including players, coaches, administrators, and other volunteers.

Hockey Nova Scotia Adult Rec Award

The Hockey Nova Scotia Adult Rec Award is presented annually to an individual who has devoted many years to the delivery, development, and growth of Adult Rec hockey.

This award recognizes those who organize, deliver, and administer the Adult Rec game.

Nominees must be involved with leagues, groups or teams registered with Hockey Nova Scotia.

Hockey Nova Scotia Life Membership

Life Membership is the highest honour that may be bestowed by the branch and is to be awarded only for very distinctive services to this association.

Nominations for life membership may be made by the Officers and shall be presented at the annual general meeting (AGM) for approval by a majority vote. Life members shall act in an advisory capacity to the Officers of the association and are entitled to attend all meetings of the association, exercising all privileges of the Executive (except where otherwise restricted in the Articles, By-Laws, Regulations and Rules), by shall not be eligible to a life pass, entitling such person to admission to any game of games played under the jurisdiction of HNS.

Jed Ritcey Award: Volunteer of the Year

The Jed Ritcey Award was instituted in 1999 in honour of former president Jed Ritcey.

This award recognizes an outstanding volunteer who has contributed to amateur hockey and Hockey Nova Scotia.

Volunteer service may include years of participation, administrative contributions or innovation towards the advancement of amateur hockey. The award is to be presented to an individual who has dedicated himself or herself to the ideals of Hockey Canada/Hockey Nova Scotia, and who has worked tirelessly for the improvement of the association.

Ken Mantin Award

This award was established in 1996 and named in honour of longtime president Ken Mantin.

It recognizes individuals for outstanding contributions to the development of amateur hockey in Nova Scotia at the provincial level.

Nominees are eligible from the fields of research, sports medicine, psychology, coaching, officiating, administration, or other related categories.

This award is presented annually.

Clary MacDonald Memorial Award: Coach of the Year

This award was established by the Officers of Hockey Nova Scotia in recognition of the outstanding service given to amateur hockey by the late Clary MacDonald.

Mr. MacDonald was a longtime hockey volunteer.

Ron Conrad Award: Female Team of the Year

The Ron Conrad Award was founded in 1996 by Hockey Nova Scotia and named in honour of former branch president Ron Conrad.

This award is presented annually to a Hockey Nova Scotia-registered female team deemed to have had the most successful season during the past year.

Fred Fox Award: Male Team of the Year

The Fred Fox Award was founded in 1996 by Hockey Nova Scotia and named in honour of longtime president Fred Fox.

The award is presented annually to a Hockey Nova Scotia-registered male hockey team that has excelled during the past season.

Hal Lewis Award: Official of the Year

The Hal Lewis Award was instituted in 1999 in honour of the late Mr. Hal Lewis who served for many years with both Hockey Nova Scotia and Hockey Canada.

To be considered for the award, an individual must have been involved as an active official and/or served in an administrative role. The individual must exemplify the standards of both Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia and have given back to the officiating program as an instructor, supervisor or mentor.

Officiating Distinction Award: Female

This award is presented annually to a female official who has shown significant promise within the officiating program.

A deserving winner will have demonstrated the initiative to further develop her officiating skills and has been identified as a positive role model within the program.

Hockey Canada Officiating Program Branch Awards

The Hockey Canada Officiating Branch Awards are presented annually to the Most Promising, Most Improved and Most Deserving official in the Hockey Nova Scotia branch.

The guidelines established for these awards are as follows:

Most Promising: A young official in their first, second or third year of officiating who has been identified as being the best rookie.
Most Improved: The official who has shown the most improvement within their officiating calibre of hockey. This is not necessarily the best official but the one who has progressed the most through their attendance at clinics, seminars and on-ice efforts.
Most Deserving: The official who is rated on their own officiating skills and what they put back into the Branch/Division.

Development Association of the Year

This award is presented to the association that has best demonstrated a strong commitment to the overall development of its players, coaches, officials, administrators, and parents.

Development Coordinator of the Year Award

This award is presented to the minor hockey association development coordinator who best supports the concept of development at the association level.

Jacques Comeau Coach of the Year Award (Rep Coach)

The Jacques Comeau Coach of the Year Award is give at the conclusion of each season to the rep team coach who best demonstrates dedication, respect and fair play at the minor hockey level.

The award is present annually in memory of Jacques Comeau who passed away in 2014. Mr. Comeau was a longtime coach and volunteer with the Halifax Hawks Minor Hockey Association who always exhibited the qualities of dedication, respect and fair play while behind the bench.

Rec Coach of the Year Award

This award is presented to the house team coach who best demonstrates dedication, respect and fair play at the minor hockey level.

Lauchie MacIsaac Director's Award

The Lauchie MacIsaac Director’s Award is presented annually to associations and/or leagues that have achieved outstanding success or progress in the administration of minor hockey during the past hockey season.

Dedication, hard work and cooperation are the qualities that are used as criteria in determining winners of this award.

Registrar's Award

The Registrar's Award was established in 1983 to recognize an association for its cooperation, preciseness, efficiency and expediency to ensure that all eligible members within that association are duly registered and that all registration cards are in proper order and forwarded to the Director of Operations.

In recent years, the award has honoured an efficient registrar who goes above and beyond to ensure that their association's players are properly registered and accounted for.

Outhie Moriarity Award

The Outhie Moriarity Memorial Award was established in 1988 by the estate of the late Outhie Moriarity.

Mr. Moriarity was an avid minor hockey fan who usually could be found at one minor hockey rink or another in the Halifax or Dartmouth area supporting the hockey community. He had a particular fondness of house league hockey.

The award honours him and is presented annually to the Rec-level player who most epitomizes the objectives of minor hockey through dedication, responsibility and reliability.

Denny Deveau Award

The Denny Deveau Award was instituted in 2004 in honour of former president Denny Deveau.

This annual award is presented by Hockey Nova Scotia's Female Council in recognition of an individual for outstanding leadership and contribution to the advancement of the female game in Nova Scotia.

Nominees for this award originate from the fields of coaching, officiating, research and administration.

Bill Riley Award

The Bill Riley Award will be presented annually to a player in Nova Scotia of African descent who embodies the characteristics and traits that Riley demonstrated during his hockey career including: an exceptional teammate, competitive, passionate about the sport, and a tenacious work ethic.