Yorkregion.com - Sports - What is the Dudley Hewitt Cup?
What is the Dudley Hewitt Cup?
Sports
Apr 19, 2008 10:12 PM
Since 1996, the tournament doubles as the Ontario Hockey Federation championship and to determine the Central Canada representative for the Royal Bank Cup national championship for Canadian Jr. A Hockey League teams May 3 to 11 in Cornwall.
The round-robin tournament includes playoff champions from the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Superior International Junior Hockey League, Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League, and host team.
The Dudley Hewitt Cup is actually named after two pioneers of amateur hockey.
George Dudley (1894 - 1960) was born in Midland, Ont., and attended Osgoode Hall Law School. He was selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950 for his contributions to minor hockey.
William Hewitt (1875 - 1966) was born in Cobourg and moved to Toronto as a youth and went on to become a reporter. He served as a manager for many junior hockey teams and was involved with the launch of Maple Leaf Gardens in the early 1930s. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947.
PAST CHAMPIONS
The Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League champion has enjoyed a run of successes in Dudley Hewitt Cup competition. Its representatives have won eight of the past 12 tournaments.
Recent winners of the Dudley Hewitt Cup:
2007 — Aurora Tigers (OPJHL)
2006 — Fort William North Stars (SIJHL)
2005 — Georgetown Raiders (OPJHL)
2004 — Aurora Tigers (OPJHL)
2003 — Wellington Dukes (OPJHL)
2002 — Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (NOJHL)
2001 — Thornhill Rattlers (OPJHL)
2000 — Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (NOJHL)
1999 — Bramalea Blues (OPJHL)
1998 — Milton Merchants (OPJHL)
1997 — Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (NOJHL)
1996 — Newmarket Hurricanes (OPJHL)