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Drago receives Ontario Hockey Federation Life Membership

Though he has moved on to the upper echelons of minor hockey administration in Canada, Sudbury native Joe Drago has not been forgotten by the provincial body where he remained for 14 years, the final six as president.
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As executive vice-chair of Hockey Canada, Joe Drago is sitting in very elite company when it comes to the movers and shakers of amateur hockey in this country.
Though he has moved on to the upper echelons of minor hockey administration in Canada, Sudbury native Joe Drago has not been forgotten by the provincial body where he remained for 14 years, the final six as president.

Acclaimed as the chairman of the board of Hockey Canada this past December, Drago will be bestowed the honour of an Ontario Hockey Federation Life Membership when the group gathers for its annual awards banquet on May 23 in Niagara Falls.

A longtime hockey volunteer in Northern Ontario, and one-time part owner and general manager of the Sudbury Wolves, Drago moved on to the board of the OHF near the turn of the millennium.

In forwarding a letter to Drago confirming the honour, the OHF noted that "Life Membership is the highest honour that can be bestowed by this Branch for very distinctive services and contributions to the Federation."

Battling some recent health issues, Drago has been in Toronto quite a bit of late, ever since attending the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championships for the first time as chairman of Hockey Canada.

He will be returning home several times over the next few weeks, preparing for a fundraising dinner at the Caruso Club on April 21, where he will be joined by former NHL head coach and current Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney.

An educator who went on to become a school principal locally, Drago graduated from Clarkson University, having attended the school on an NCAA hockey scholarship. He would move on to hold a variety of volunteer roles within the hockey community, including working as commissioner of the NOJHL at times.

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