**TOWN OF COCHRANE PRESS RELEASE**

The future of the NHL will be on full display, up close and personal. Alumni include Mitch Marner, Max Domi, Todd Bertuzzi, Zach Hyman, Colin Miller, Jake Muzzin, Steve Sullivan, and many more. The Dudley-Hewitt Cup will crown the Central Canadian Junior Hockey League champions, who will in turn represent Ontario in the National Championship later in May.

This year, the Town of Cochrane and the Cochrane Crunch are proud to host the Dudley-Hewitt at one of the Region’s more spectacular venues, the Tim Horton Events Centre from April 30th to May 4th 2019.

Cochrane Host Committee Chair, Sue Parton, explains what an honor and privilege it is to host this hockey tournament, saying “We are honoured and excited to be hosting the 2019 Dudley-Hewitt Cup Jr. A Hockey Tournament. This tournament will showcase the skills and talent that exists in the 3 Jr. A Hockey Leagues in Central Canada, perhaps even highlighting future stars of the NHL! We anticipate fast-paced, high-caliber hockey all week, and invite everyone to come and enjoy Jr. A hockey at its finest, right here in the birthplace of hockey legend Tim Horton, Cochrane, Ontario!”

As in most northern Canadian communities’ backyard ice rinks and street hockey, where children learn to skate before they can run, is part of the culture in Cochrane. The Cochrane Crunch program is one of the most successful in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. Along with the Superior International Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Junior Hockey League, the caliber of Hockey will be outstanding. Teams are comprised of players from all over North America, not only displaying the Continent’s best talent, but an impressive audience.

Tickets or more information can be found at www.dudleyhewittcup2019.com or email Katherine at DHCticketsales@hotmail.com .

BACKGROUNDER:

THE DUDLEY-HEWITT CUP: The Dudley-Hewitt Cup pits a host team against the champions of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL), and the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL). The players in these leagues are aged 16-21 and many aspire to play in the NHL.

It is a prestigious Junior A hockey tournament representing the best of Junior Hockey in Central Canada. The tournament is held each spring to determine a champion who will move on to represent Central Canada in the National tournament, the RBC Cup, which determines the country’s best Junior A Hockey Team.

ABOUT COCHRANE: Cochrane is at the tip of where the Trans Canada Highway 11 turns from North-South in direction to East-West and the last organized community before James Bay some five hours to the north. The town is home to about 5,000 people, 50 businesses, and 5 polar bears.

The community is built on a numbered grid system of streets that runs east to west, and avenues that run north to south, all around Lake Commando. The main avenue of businesses run along Sixth Avenue, as well as a corridor along Hwy 11 itself. There are plenty of shops and convenience stores around town including: the Polar Bear Market at the corner of 4th Avenue and 14th Street about a one-minute drive from the Tim Horton – Event Center – which serves a variety of meals; Angel’s Mini Mart on Railway Street near 6th Avenue serving pizza, fried chicken and wings; and Pap’s Dollar Store right on Hwy 11 across from the Tourism Hut.

Cochrane has a variety of restaurants: including The Station Inn Restaurant along Railway Street near 6th Avenue; Terry’s Steakhouse on Highway 11 South by the Thriftlodge; JRs BBQ Ranch on 3rd Avenue upon entering town; The Ice Hut Sports Bar on 3rd Street between 4th and 5th Avenue; and Kaylob Kafe at 5th Street and 8th Avenue, across from the Commando Park Pavilion. Grocery stores include, Valu-Mart on Highway 11 West, Giant Tiger on 6th Avenue at 4th Street, and Bussiere’s Quality Meats on 2nd Street.

For fun and entertainment, there is Butch’s Bowling and the Empire Theatre on 6th Avenue. The Station Inn and the Ice Hut become bars in the evening, and at times have live music, themed events, and open mic nights. For outdoor activity there is The Cross Country Ski Club (ski and snowshoe rentals available at the Cochrane Public Library) where you can pay to use the extensive trails for an awesome cardio workout.

Cochrane places a high value on it’s cherished way of life boasting over five times more recreational and cultural assets then all other serviced based assets. The Tim Horton Event Centre (THEC), at 7 Tim Horton Drive, is home to an NHL-size arena and a fun-filled swimming pool, complete with a whirlpool, a unique lazy river, and a 21? foot high water slide, all set in a simulated tropical beach setting. The THEC also has a fitness centre of 500 square feet, which includes new equipment for patrons to enjoy.

The newly built Commando Park Pavilion outdoor entertainment complex is the region’s newest spectacle, built right on Lake Commando. It offers an array of opportunities to enjoy the greatest way of life in the best backyard on the planet!

Visit www.cochraneontario.com www.polarbearhabitat.ca

Filed under: Local News