Dudley Hewitt Cup

Canadian Junior A Outline The Dudley Hewitt Cup is the Central Canadian Junior "A" championship. The trophy is governed by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The winner moves on to the Royal Bank Cup.

Prior to the creation of the Dudley Hewitt Cup and Callaghan Cup, all Eastern teams played in the Eastern Centennial Cup Championship.

Naming of Trophy
The trophy is named in honour of George Dudley and W. A. Hewitt who were two pioneers of amateur hockey in the province of Ontario. Both men are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Leagues

 * Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
 * Ontario Junior Hockey League
 * Superior International Junior Hockey League

Current
A pre-selected host team plus the champions of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, and Superior International Junior Hockey League play a single round robin preliminary round followed by a the second and third place teams from the round robin meeting in the semifinal and the winner of that game meeting the first place team from the round robin in the championship game. The winner of the championship advances to the National Junior A Championship. If the predetermined host of this tournament also wins their league playoffs the runner-up qualifies as the league representative. This format has been used since the 2001-02 season when the Superior International Junior Hockey League began play.

Previous Formats

 * From 1997-98 to 2000-01 a best of seven series was held between the winners of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and the then Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (now OJHL).
 * For 1996-97 the Metro Junior A Hockey League would be included in the playdowns creating the need for two rounds of play.  The MJAHL would merger with the OPJHL for the 1997-98 season.
 * From 1990-91 to 1995-96 a tournament held between a host team and representatives of the Central Junior A Hockey League (2 teams), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League, and a representative from the Thunder Bay area (each time it was the Thunder Bay Flyers of the United States Hockey League).
 * From 1978-79 until 1989-90 Atlantic Canada was removed from the playdowns as they would play for the Callaghan Cup to determine the Atlantic region spot for the Centennial Cup.  Previously, the Atlantic region champion would qualify for the Dudley Hewit Cup playdowns.
 * From 1970-71 to 1977-78 the trophy was for the Eastern Canada championship a a spot in the Centennial Cup final against the Western Canada champion.