A pair of Nova Scotia officials will soon be donning the stripes on the world stage.

Antigonish referee Shauna Neary is Ontario-bound for a pair of Rivalry Series games, while Cole Harbour linesman Sean Hagen has received an assignment that will bring him to Switzerland in December.

After refereeing last summer's 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship in Calgary, Alta., Neary has once again been chosen to officiate the Rivalry Series games between the Canadian and American national women’s teams in Kingston, Ont. on Nov. 21, and Ottawa on Nov. 23.

“Shauna is an experienced and accomplished official who has worked the top levels of female hockey, as well as the Junior A ranks in this region. She’s one of the best officials not only in this province, but across Canada, and we’re thrilled to see her receive this honour,” Hockey Nova Scotia referee-in-chief Rick Hill said.

These are the third and fourth games in the 2021 Rivalry Series. Canada was victorious in the two previous match-ups last month, winning by scores of 3-1 in the first meeting and 3-2 in Game 2.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to officiate some of the best female hockey players in the world. I am truly humbled and honoured to be selected to referee this traditionally heated Rivalry Series in Kingston and Ottawa," Neary said.

Hagen, a QMJHL linesman who began working league games in 2018, has been selected to work the lines at the FISU Winter Universiade Games in Lucerne, Switzerland from Dec. 8-22.

"Sean is a focused and driven individual who has lined games at the highest levels of the sport in this province. His talents have been recognized in the past by Hockey Canada and we’re very pleased to see him receive this important recognition," Hill said.

Sydney's Mitchell Balmas, a forward with the St. Mary's Huskies men's hockey team and former Hockey Nova Scotia High Performance Program member, has been named to Team Canada hockey and will be competing in the men's hockey tournament.

On behalf of everyone at Hockey Nova Scotia, we would like to congratulate Shauna and Sean on their impressive assignments and wish them the best of luck at their events.