A memorable hockey season got even more special for North Bay's Joe Butkevich.
Butkevich, who coaches the Etobicoke Jr Dolphins captured a provincial women's hockey title with his squad this season.
However, the success also caught the attention of Team Canada women's U-18 program which decided to take six players from his championship club team to the Worlds in Madison, Wisconsin.
See related: A pod of dolphins in Wisconsin
See related: ROOTED: Joe Butkevich is helping to grow women's hockey
Avi Adam, Reichen Kirchmair, Sarah MacEachern, Mari Pietersen, Alyssa Regalado and Mckenna Van Gelder all play with the Etobicoke Dolphins in the U22 Elite division of the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA).
The six Dolphins kept their winning ways as Canada defeated the US 3-2 in the tournament final to capture gold for team Canada.
For Butkevich, it was another memorable time as he traveled to Wisconsin to see his players in action from the stands.
"To see my players be invited and then be selected to represent Canada on the international stage is something extremely special," Butkevich told BayToday.
"Setting a Hockey Canada record for most players selected from one team for a U-18 World Championship roster is something I could not be more proud of. The opportunity to be able to be in the stands and witness this tournament and watch six of my players become World Champions is surreal!"
The gold medal victory is something not only his players will remember for the rest of their lives, but a lifetime memory for Coach Joe too.
