Joe Drago has joined the rank of Sudburians who have been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne — an occasion marked only once before by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, in 1897.

Drago, the past president of the Ontario Hockey Federation, was selected as a recipient of the medal, along with current president Bill Bowman. They are among 60,000 "outstanding Canadians" of all ages from all walks of life who have been honoured with the prestigious medal, a press release stated.

“After receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal marking the 50th anniversary from Her Majesty The Queen, I never expected to be honoured again in such a fashion,” Drago said. “It is a great honour to be selected as a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. I was very surprised and humbled to learn that I was selected as I know there are many people in Canada deserving of this recognition."

Drago and Bowman are both large contributors to amateur hockey within the Ontario Hockey Federation Branch and Hockey Canada with more than 49 years and 34 years of hockey volunteering respectively. Bowman a life member of the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association, and Drago a Life Member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League have dedicated many years to organizations outside of hockey as well.