Thruway Cup
Each year, the International League's closest rivals compete for bragging rights of more than just position in the IL's North Division. Since 1998, the Thruway Cup Series has pitted the Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings and Syracuse Chiefs in a battle for the highway that connects them all together.
The three teams are separated by just 150 miles, and through the years have competed in some of the most memorable games in the history of the International League.
Since the inception of the competition, the Buffalo Bisons have enjoyed most of the bragging rights. After watching Rochester win in '98 and Syracuse claim victory in '99, the Herd took over. Buffalo won the Thruway Series in six seasons, claiming two Thruway Cups as symbol of their triumph.
Unique to this competition, it was agreed that any team winning the trophy three times would get to "retire" the cup and keep it as their own. Buffalo's back-to-back-to-back victories in 2000-2002 gave the team their first bit of hardware. After winning again in 2004 and 2006, the Bisons put together another victorious season in 2007, allowing them to make a permanent home for a second Thruway Cup trophy at Coca-Cola Field.
The Third Thruway cup was won by the Rochester Red Wings in 2008 and 2009 and then the Chiefs last season.
*The Syracuse Chiefs Have Clinched the 2011 Thruway Cup*
Wins |
Losses |
GB |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Syracuse Chiefs
|
19
|
10
|
-
|
Buffalo Bisons
|
14
|
17
|
X |
Rochester Red Wings
|
12
|
18
|
X |
2011 Thruway Cup Schedule
Date |
Matchup |
Result |
Date
|
Matchup |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 7
|
Syracuse at Bisons |
SYR, 8-5 |
July 5 |
Bisons at Syracuse |
BUF, 11-6 |
April 8
|
Syracuse at Bisons |
BUF, 3-2(13) |
July 14 |
Rochester at Bisons |
BUF, 5-3 |
April 19(1)
|
Rochester at Bisons |
ROC, 3-1 |
July 15 |
Rochester at Bisons |
BUF, 8-4 |
April 19(2)
|
Rochester at Bisons |
ROC, 2-0 |
July 16 |
Bisons at Rochester |
ROC, 4-2 |
April 21(1)
|
Rochester at Bisons |
BUF, 4-2(10) |
July 17 |
Bisons at Rochester |
BUF, 13-4 |
April 21(2)
|
Rochester at Bisons |
BUF, 4-1 |
July 19 |
Bisons at Syracuse |
SYR, 4-3(12) |
April 26
|
Bisons at Rochester |
BUF, 5-0 |
July 20(1) |
Bisons at Syracuse |
SYR, 7-6(8) |
April 27
|
Bisons at Rochester |
ROC, 3-2 |
July 20(2) |
Bisons at Syracuse |
SYR, 9-5 |
April 28 |
Bisons at Rochester |
ROC, 8-6 |
July 21 |
Bisons at Syracuse |
BUF, 5-2 |
April 28 |
Bisons at Rochester |
BUF, 3-2 |
Aug. 1 |
Bisons at Rochester |
BUF, 9-6 |
April 30 |
Rochester at Syracuse |
SYR, 3-0 |
Aug. 2 |
Bisons at Rochester |
ROC, 7-3 |
May 1 |
Rochester at Syracuse |
ROC, 9-6 |
Aug. 8 |
Bisons at Syracuse |
SYR, 8-2 |
May 2 |
Rochester at Syracuse |
SYR, 3-2 |
Aug. 9 |
Bisons at Syracuse |
SYR, 3-2(11) |
May 21 |
Syracuse at Rochster |
SYR, 2-0 |
Aug. 10 |
Syracuse at Bisons |
SYR, 6-1 |
May 22 |
Syracuse at Rochster |
SYR, 9-3 |
Aug. 11 |
Syracuse at Bisons |
BUF, 3-2 |
May 23
|
Syracuse at Rochster |
ROC, 5-0 |
Aug. 26(1) |
Rochester at Syracuse |
ROC, 2-0 |
May 24
|
Syracuse at Rochster |
ROC, 10-4 |
Aug. 26(2) |
Rochester at Syracuse |
ROC, 3-2 |
June 24
|
Rochester at Syracuse |
SYR, 10-3 |
Aug. 27 |
Rochester at Syracuse |
SYR, 4-3 |
June 25
|
Rochester at Syracuse |
ROC, 6-2(7) |
Aug. 28 |
Rochester at Bisons |
BUF, 3-1 |
June 26
|
Rochester at Syracuse |
SYR, 9-2 |
Aug. 29 |
Rochester at Bisons |
BUF, 6-5 |
June 27
|
Syracuse at Rochster |
SYR, 11-2 |
Aug. 31 |
Syracuse at Bisons |
SYR, 3-1 |
July 2 |
Syracuse at Rochster |
SYR, 5-6 (11) |
Sept. 1 |
Syracuse at Bisons |
|
July 3
|
Syracuse at Bisons |
SYR, 4-10 |
Sept. 2 |
Syracuse at Rochester |
|
July 4
|
Syracuse at Bisons |
SYR, 2-4 |
Sept. 3 |
Syracuse at Rochester |