Hockey Nova Scotia is proud to announce that Cyril O’Brien has been named the recipient of the 2025 Ken Mantin Award.

The Ken Mantin Award, named in honour of former Hockey Nova Scotia president Ken Mantin, is presented annually in recognition of an outstanding contribution to amateur hockey development in Nova Scotia.

A dedicated official and mentor, O’Brien has spent the last decade championing the growth of women and girls' hockey in Nova Scotia—most notably from the officiating side of the game.

Since he first stepped onto the ice as an official ten years ago, O’Brien has made a name for himself as a steady, committed, and reliable presence. Before becoming referee-in-chief of Metro West Force Female Hockey in 2022, O’Brien was one of the association’s most active and consistent officials, refereeing at all division and levels. He earned a reputation for always making himself available—often enthusiastically stepping in to ensure that games could go ahead.

As referee-in-chief, O’Brien’s impact has grown even further. A strong believer in mentorship, he has worked tirelessly to support the recruitment and development of female officials in the province. Drawing from his own experience and inspired by the guidance he received early in his career from officiating trailblazer Shauna Neary, O’Brien has been a visible and accessible leader—assigning hundreds of games each season, while regularly mentoring new officials at the rink.

Under his leadership, several Metro West officials have advanced to high levels of the game.

This past season, O’Brien played a central role in organizing a female-only officiating clinic—an initiative that created a positive and welcoming entry point for new officials and resulted in Metro West’s largest-ever intake of female referees.

His commitment to the game has extended well the Metro West association. O’Brien volunteered hundreds of hours with the Dalhousie University women’s hockey team as an athletic trainer, travelling across the Maritimes to support the team with sideline medical care—while simultaneously beginning his studies at Dalhousie Medical School, where he is currently in his second year.

Despite the demands of medical school, O’Brien has continued to give back to the game, both on and off the ice. In addition to his mentorship work, he has overseen officiating operations for two provincial female championships, helping create opportunities for officials to gain valuable provincial experience.

Please join us in congratulating Cyril O’Brien on being named the 2025 Ken Mantin Award recipient.