North Bay native Joey Butkevich is coming home with a bronze medal from the 2020 U18 World Women's Division 1 Group B World Championships recently held in Katowice, Poland.
Butkevich, who is the Head Coach of the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League was named an assistant coach of the Chinese national U18 women's team for the event before Christmas.
Butkevich's Team China squad had an impressive run with wins over Great Britain, Norway, Poland before defeating Korea 4-2 to capture the bronze medal.
"It feels good to be part of history," Butkevich stated via social medial
"Team China's first medal in IIHF U18 World Championships history."
It’s an opportunity of global proportions for Joe Butkevich. The Head Coach of the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League is about to help lead the Chinese national U18 women’s team into the 2020 World Championships in Katowice, Poland.
See related: Butkevich headed for world stage
Butkevich told Matt Sookram there is already some real skill and talent among the players.
“The players are sponges," said Butkevich prior to the World Championships.
"They do exactly what we ask and they are all very good individually, we’re just trying to teach a team game and teach systems and how to play as a team, but it’s been remarkable so far.”
