J. Pius Callaghan Cup

The J. Pius Callaghan Cuphttp://www.peisportshalloffame.ca/personalities/personalitiy.cfm?ID=3 is a trophy that was formerly given to the ice hockey Junior A Champion of Atlantic Canada from 1981 until 1991. The trophy is named for Joseph Pius Callaghan, sports writer for the Charlottetown Guardian, school teacher, and sports executive, by Hockey PEI.http://www.peisportshalloffame.ca/personalities/personalitiy.cfm?ID=3 From 1991 until 2006, the trophy was awarded to the playoff champion of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League. In 2006 it was retired and now resides in the Charlottetown Civic Centre. Prior to 1981, the championship was just called the Atlantic Junior A Championship.
==History==
First awarded in 1981, the Callaghan Cup was awarded to the top team to play in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. Prior to this, the championship was just known as the Atlantic Junior A Championship.
Depending on the year, the Callaghan Cup was the quarter-final of the Manitoba Centennial Cup National Championship and the winner would play the Dudley Hewitt Cup/Central Champions for the Hewitt-Dudley Memorial Trophy Eastern Canada Championship. Although, some years when competition in the Atlantic provinces was weak, the Callaghan Cup champion would enter the Dudley Hewitt Cup playdowns which undermined the prominence of the Atlantic Championship.
In 1991, all Maritime leagues had amalgamated into the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and the St. John's Junior Hockey League dropped down to Jr. B play. The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association gave the MJAHL custody over the Callaghan Cup as its playoff championship.
In 2006, the Maritime Junior A Hockey League retired the trophy and replaced it with the Kent Cup.
Prior to the MJAHL taking control of the trophy, the Callaghan Cup/Atlantic Championship was won by a Prince Edward Island team 9 times, a Nova Scotia team 8 times, New Brunswick 3 times, and Newfoundland and Labrador once.
Since 1995, the Atlantic Region, Ottawa District of Ontario and the Quebec champions all compete together for a spot at the Royal Bank Cup through the Fred Page Cup.
==Leagues in competition==
*Eastern Junior A Hockey League
*Island Junior Hockey League
*Maritime Junior A Hockey League (1968–1971)
*Metro Valley Junior Hockey League
*New Brunswick Junior Hockey League
*Newfoundland Junior A Hockey League
*St. John's Junior Hockey League
==Champions==
 	
{| cellpadding="1" width="675px" style="font-size: 90%; border: 1px solid gray;"	 	 	
Atlantic Canada Junior A Champions 	Atlantic Canada Junior A Champions 	Atlantic Canada Junior A Champions 	Atlantic Canada Junior A Champions 	Atlantic Canada Junior A Champions
Year 	Champions 	Runners-Up 	Series/Host 	
Atlantic Junior A Championship 	Atlantic Junior A Championship 	Atlantic Junior A Championship 	Atlantic Junior A Championship 	
1971 	Charlottetown Islanders (MJAHL) 	Moncton Beavers (NBJHL) 	4-0 	
1972 	Charlottetown Islanders (Independent) 	Moncton Beavers (NBJHL) 	4-1 	
1973 	Moncton Beavers (NBJHL) 	Buchans Miners (NJAHL) 	3-0 	
1974 	Charlottetown Colonels (IJHL) 	Moncton Beavers (NBJHL) 	3-2 	
1975 	Gander Jr. Flyers (NJAHL) 	Charlottetown Colonels (IJHL) 	3-0 	
1976 	Charlottetown Colonels (IJHL) 	Sydney Millionaires (EJAHL) 	4-1 	
1977 	Charlottetown Generals (IJHL) 	Sydney Millionaires (EJAHL) 	4-0 	
1978 	Charlottetown Eagles (IJHL) 	Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) 	4-0 	
1979 	Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL) 	Halifax Lions (MVJHL) 	4-3 	
1980 	Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL) 	Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) 	4-2 	
Callaghan Cup 	Callaghan Cup 	Callaghan Cup 	Callaghan Cup 	
1981 	Cole Harbour Colts (MVJHL) 	Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL) 	4-2 	
1982 	Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) 	North River North Stars (IJHL) 	4-2 	
1983 	Halifax Lions (MVJHL) 	Sherwood-Parkdale Metros (IJHL) 	4-1 	
1984 	Halifax Lions (MVJHL) 	Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 	4-1 	
1985 	Cole Harbour Colts* (MVJHL) 	Charlottetown Eagles (IJHL) 	4-2 	
1986 	Moncton Hawks* (MVJHL) 	Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 	4-1 	
1987 	Dartmouth Fuel Kids (MVJHL) 	Charlottetown Abbies (IJHL) 	4-1 	
1988 	Halifax Lions (MVJHL) 	Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 	4-3 	
1989 	Summerside Western Capitals (IJHL) 	Moncton Hawks (MVJHL) 	4-1 	
1990 	Amherst Ramblers (MVJHL) 	Charlottetown Abbies (IJHL) 	4-1 	
1991 	Halifax Canadians (MVJHL) 	St. John's Jr. 50s (SJJHL) 	4-0 	
Callaghan Cup permanently given to Maritime Junior A Hockey League	Callaghan Cup permanently given to Maritime Junior A Hockey League	Callaghan Cup permanently given to Maritime Junior A Hockey League	Callaghan Cup permanently given to Maritime Junior A Hockey League	
==Championships==
*1979 Callaghan Cup
*1980 Callaghan Cup
*1981 Callaghan Cup
*1982 Callaghan Cup
*1983 Callaghan Cup
*1984 Callaghan Cup
*1985 Callaghan Cup
*1986 Callaghan Cup
*1987 Callaghan Cup
*1988 Callaghan Cup
*1989 Callaghan Cup
*1990 Callaghan Cup
*1991 Callaghan Cup
==References==
==External links==
*Fred Page Cup Website
*MJAHL Website
*CJAHL Website
Category:Canadian Junior A Hockey League
Category:Callaghan Cup
Category:Trophies and awards
Category:Atlantic Junior A Hockey