Dudley Hewitt Cup - History

History

The trophy is named after George Dudley and W. A. Hewitt, two pioneers of amateur hockey in Ontario.

From 1984 until 1995 the Thunder Bay Flyers of the United States Hockey League competed for the Dudley Hewitt Cup, possibly the most successful competition in the event's history with 4 titles in 12 years.

The 2002 Dudley Hewitt Cup marked a new chapter in Ontario hockey history. Since the mid-1990s, the OPJHL and NOJHL had squared off in a head-to-head series to determine the Central Canadian seed in the Royal Bank Cup. In 2001, a new Thunder Bay-area league, called the Superior International Junior Hockey League, was founded. Late in the 2001-02 season of the OPJHL and NOJHL, the CJAHL informed them that instead of a series the Dudley would be competed for through a round robin format. The NOJHL and OPJHL decided to protest the new format by boycotting the Dudley Hewitt Cup, but without the OPJHL's governors knowledge, the heads of the NOJHL and SIJHL worked out a backroom deal that they would compete for the Cup without the OPJHL's involvement. The NOJHL's Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats swept SIJHL's Dryden Ice Dogs, while the OPJHL's Brampton Capitals sat at home with no avenue for advancement. The subterfuge by the NOJHL led to an agreement in 2003 to allow the championship to be played in a round robin style. Also, it marked the end of any dominance the NOJHL had at the interleague level as no NOJHL champion had won the DHC since 2002 until 2012.

The 2011 Dudley Hewitt Cup will make history of a different kind. For the first time at the interleague level, more than one American team will be in direct contention for the Central Canadian Crown. The 2011 round robin will feature the Wisconsin Wilderness of the Superior International Junior Hockey League and the Soo Eagles of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 1971, the Detroit Jr. Red Wings of the Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League won the inaugural championship. In 1973, the St. Paul Vulcans of the Can-Am Junior Hockey League were mowed down by the Pembroke Lumber Kings in the Central semi-final. In 2007, the Soo Indians of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League finished last in the round robin. To this date, no American team has made it to either the Centennial Cup or Royal Bank Cup round robin or final series.