Dudley-Hewitt Digest: DHC field nearing completion

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE

Release Date: Saturday, April 20, 2013

Dudley-Hewitt Digest: DHC field nearing completion

NORTH BAY — With the start of the 2013 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Central Canada Jr. A championship in North Bay just 10 days away, the field for the four-team event is rapidly nearing completion.

While we know the host North Bay Trappers will be joined by the Soo Thunderbirds as the two Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League representatives, regardless of the outcome of the Copeland Cup-McNamara Trophy final which North Bay currently leads three games to one, who will be joining them could be known by the end of the weekend.

The Ontario Junior Hockey League rep will be decided Sunday evening as the St. Michael’s Buzzers host the Newmarket Hurricanes in game 7 of the OJHL Buckland Cup final at 4 p.m. at St. Michael’s College Arena.

Meanwhile the Superior International Junior Hockey League delegate could be determined tonight as the two-time defending Bill Salonen Cup champion Minnesota Wilderness look to wrap up their best-of-seven affair on home ice at 7:30 p.m. CT as they take on the Fort Frances Lakers in game 5, already up 3-1 in that series.

Once finalized the four competing clubs will they take to the ice in the three-day round robin event, which will feature two games a day at North Bay’s Memorial Gardens.

Each side will play each other once over the course of those opening three days with sudden victory overtime being used, if required, to decide a winner in each contest.

After round robin competition the first place squad will gain an automatic berth to the final on Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m.

The second and third place teams will meet in the semifinal Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. with the winner moving on to play in the championship game the following evening.

WHO PLAYS WHO: Game action at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup begins on Tuesday, April 30 at 2:30 p.m. with the Soo Thunderbirds taking on champions of the OJHL.

The night cap will then feature North Bay meeting the title holders of the SIJHL at 7 p.m.

Day 2 features Sault Ste. Marie squaring off against the SIJHL at 2:30 p.m. with the Trappers tangling with the OJHL at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1.

Thursday, May 2 sees the SIJHL and OJHL doing battle at 2:30 p.m. while an all-NOJHL affair between North Bay and the Soo at 7 p.m. to conclude day 3 and the round robin portion of the proceedings.

The first place side after the round robin will automatically advance to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup final Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m.

Semifinal action goes Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. and will feature the second and third place sides vying for a place in the championship game.

The fourth place team after the round robin will be eliminated as their 2012-13 season will come to a close.

TICKETS: Ticket packages for the Dudley-Hewitt Cup in North Bay remain on sale from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. daily at the Memorial Gardens Box Office.

Cost for an 8-game package for adults is $95, seniors and students $75 and just $50 for children.

You can reserve your seat by calling 705-474-3770.

WEBSTREAMING: Each and every game for the Dudley-Hewitt Cup will be available online via live pay-per-view webstreaming through the NOJHL website and FASTHockey in conjunction with Dawstar Video Production.

Included in the broadcasts will be intermission features and during evening games there will be live between period interviews with players and coaches.

Be sure to visit nojhl.fasthockey.com just prior to game time on each day of the DHC.

Live online scoring of each Dudley-Hewitt Cup game will also be available through the NOJHL’s official website at www.nojhl.com.

There fans will be able to follow each and every contest in real time.

Fans will also be able to learn more on the DHC through the NOJHL website with news, information, features and statistics of each competing team at the event.

DHC WEBSITE: The Dudley-Hewitt Cup website will also provide news, information and features on the five-day event.

Learn more by checking out the site at www.dudleyhewitt.com.

THE ROAD TO THE DHC: With the North Bay Trappers serving as host of this year’s Dudley-Hewitt Cup the Soo Thunderbirds have automatically qualified as the NOJHL’s second representative club at the four-team event, which will also include the title holders of both the OJHL and SIJHL.

The following is a breakdown on how each of the three league championship series are progressing

THE NOJHL: The North Bay Trappers remain focused on going through the front door as both Dudley-Hewitt Cup hosts and NOJHL champions.

North Bay is just one win away from accomplishing that feat as they lead the Soo Thunderbirds three games to one in their best-of-seven Copeland Cup-McNamara Trophy final.

The Trappers will have an opportunity to clinch the title Sunday afternoon as they host the Thunderbirds in game 5 at 2 p.m. at North Bay Memorials Gardens.

Should the Soo come away victorious in that one then they will return home for game 6 Monday in Sault Ste. Marie at 7:30 p.m.

If needed a seventh and deciding contest will be staged April 24 back in North Bay at 7:30 p.m.

NOJHL Final for the Copeland Cup-McNamara Trophy
North Bay Trappers vs. Soo Greyhounds
Trappers lead best-of-seven series 3-1
Both teams advance to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup

Game 1: Soo 3 North Bay 2
Game 2: North Bay 2 Soo 1 (OT)
Game 3: North Bay 5 Soo 2
Game 4: North Bay 2 Soo 0
Game 5: April 21 @ North Bay 2 p.m.
Game 6*: April 22 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m.
Game 7*: April 24 @ North Bay 7:30 p.m.

*-if necessary

OJHL: In the OJHL it has gone right down to the wire to see who that leagues’ representative will be at the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.

The St. Michael’s Buzzers will entertain the Newmarket Hurricanes Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the seventh and deciding game of the OJHL Buckland Cup final.

Newmarket won the first two games of the series before the Buzzers answered back by winning the next three. The Hurricanes staved off elimination Friday by taking game 6 at home 3-2 on Friday to send it back to Toronto to determine a champion.

OJHL Final for the Buckland Cup

St. Michael’s Buzzers vs. Newmarket Hurricanes
Buckland Cup final tied 3-3
Winner advances to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup

Game 1: Newmarket 1 St. Michael’s 0
Game 2: Newmarket 4 St. Michael’s 3 (OT)
Game 3: St. Michael’s 1 Newmarket 0
Game 4: St. Michael’s 3 Newmarket 1
Game 5: St. Michael’s 3 Newmarket 2
Game 6: Newmarket 3 St. Michael’s 2
Game 7: April 21 @ St. Michael’s 4 p.m.

SIJHL: Meanwhile in the SIJHL the Minnesota Wilderness can claim their third consecutive Bill Salonen Cup crown tonight as they host the Fort Frances Lakers in game 5 tonight in Cloquet, Minn.

After splitting the first two games of the SIJHL final the Wilderness came back to take the next two, including a 5-3 triumph last night in which the leagues’ most valuable player and Minnesota team captain Mike Dietrich scored all five goals for his squad to put them on the brink of the title.

If required game 6 goes Monday in Fort Frances with game 7, if needed, slated for Wednesday back in Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. CT both nights.

SIJHL Final for the Bill Salonen Cup

Minnesota Wilderness vs. Fort Frances Lakers
Wilderness lead best-of-seven final 3-1
Winner advances to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup

Game 1: Wilderness 5 Lakers 1
Game 2: Lakers 2 Wilderness 1 (OT)
Game 3: Wilderness 4 Lakers 1
Game 4: Wilderness 5 Lakers 3
Game 5: April 20 @ Minnesota 7:30 p.m.
Game 6*: April 22 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m.
Game 7*: April 24 @ Minnesota 7:30 p.m.

*-if necessary

PAST CHAMPIONS: Last season’s Dudley-Hewitt Cup, held in Thunder Bay, was won by the Soo Thunderbirds. It marked the first time a NOJHL side had captured the title since the Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats accomplished the feat back in 2002.

It also put an end a run of five consecutive crowns won by the OJHL, who have garnered DHC accolades in eight of the previous 10 years. The 2012 Thunderbirds and the 2006 Fort William (Thunder Bay) North Stars of the SIJHL are the only non-OJHL sides to take the DHC trophy the past decade.

Since 1979 only a trio of teams have won three or more Dudley-Hewitt Cup crowns. The Thunder Bay Flyers won a record four times while Rayside-Balfour and the Orillia Travelways each have three to their credit.

Dudley-Hewitt Cup champions
Year    Team (League)
2013    T.B.D.
2012    Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
2011    Wellington Dukes (OJHL)
2010    Oakville Blades (OJAHL)
2009    Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL)
2008    Oakville Blades (OPHJL)
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 87’s (OPJHL)
1995    Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
1994    Chateauguay Elites (QPJHL)
1993    Chateauguay Elites (QPJHL)
1992    Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
1991    Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
1990    Longueuil Collège Français (QPJHL)
1989    Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
1988    Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL)
1987    Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJHL)
1986    Orillia Travelways (OJHL)
1985    Orillia Travelways (OJHL)
1984    Orillia Travelways (OJHL)
1983    North York Ranges (OJHL)
1982    Guelph Platers (OJHL)
1981    Belleville Bulls (OPJHL)
1980    North York Rangers (OPJHL)
1979    Guelph Platers (OPJHL)

ROYAL BANK CUP: The Dudley-Hewitt winner will then head to Summerside, P.E.I., May 11-19, where they will represent the region and compete in the Royal Bank Cup Canadian national Jr. A championship.

Joining the DHC title holder and the RBC host Summerside Western Capitals will be the winner and runner-up of the Western Canada Cup along with the recipient of the Fred Page Cup, which is emblematic of Eastern Canada Jr. A hockey supremacy.

The Road to the RBC

Dudley-Hewitt Cup
Central Canada Championship
April 30 – May 4
North Bay, Ont.
Host: North Bay Trappers, NOJHL

Fred Page Cup
Eastern Canada Championship
May 1-5
Truro, N.S.
Host: Truro Bearcats, MHL

Crescent Point Energy Western Canada Cup
Western Canada Championship
April 27 – May 5
Nanaimo, B.C.
Host: Nanaimo Clippers, BCHL

Royal Bank Cup
Canadian Jr. A Championship
May 11-19
Summerside, P.E.I.
Host: Summerside Western Capitals, MHL

2013 RBC schedule
All times Atlantic
All games at Summerside, P.E.I.

Saturday, May 11
West2 vs. East 3 p.m.
Summerside vs. Central (DHC) 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 12
West1 vs. East 3 p.m.
Central (DHC) vs. West2 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 13
Summerside vs. West 1 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 14
East vs. Central (DHC) 3 p.m.
West2 vs. Summerside 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 15
Central (DHC) vs. West1 3 p.m.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
West1 vs. West2 3 p.m.
Summerside vs. East 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 18
*Semifinal No. 1 2 p.m.
*Semifinal No. 2 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 19
RBC Championship Game – Time T.B.A.

*-First place team after round robin play chooses semifinal time slot.