Thruway Throwdown Concludes Saturday
April 3, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
When the Comets make the short trip up the Thruway to Syracuse on Saturday, it will mark the end of the first chapter of Thruway Throwdown. What an exciting chapter it was.
With the Galaxy Cup up for grabs, it's Comets and Crunch for the final time this season. The two teams have battled each other through three meetings already this season with Utica currently holding a 5-3 point advantage. A win or an OT game clinches the series win for the Comets and ensures that the Galaxy Cup finds a home in the Mohawk Valley.
The Comets first trip to the War Memorial in Syracuse was one of the most memorable games of the season to date. Utica pulled through tense moments, tight defense and even a bit of controversy, as they claimed a 2-1 victory in overtime courtesy of a Brandon DeFazio overtime winner. What made the evening so special was the support that came with the Comets from Utica. Comets fans followed their team in droves, with a rowdy supporters section right behind the Utica entrance way.
"I thought there would be a lot of fans there, but we had no idea that we would have that man," Comets Head Coach Travis Green said after the win. "What a night. People cheering us on, and with that level of excitement and passion, it was amazing to see."
A team saluting its fans after a victory isn't uncommon, but seeing it on the road was a sight to be held. DeFazio even sent a lucky fan back to Utica with the game winning lumber after the Comets left the ice to a standing ovation.
"Great Comets fan turnout in Syracuse. You guys were as loud as ever," defenseman Frank Corrado added on twitter after the victory.
The first two meetings between the two teams were also memorable for the Comets. Back in October, the Comets fell in a shootout but picked up the first point in franchise history in the process. When they met again in January in front of a sold out crowd at The AUD, the Comets celebrated Pink The Rink night, where they donated over $35,000 to the fight against breast cancer after they donated an exciting victory to their fans.
The buzz that the Comets and Crunch have created was expected, but was it expected to be this big this quickly? The rivalry that has generated between the two teams has already escalated into talks about a game on the biggest stage in the area.
The Carrier Dome in Syracuse has played host to the NCAA and Big East Basketball Tournaments, even Bruce Springsteen, but hockey would be a new venture. Crunch owner Howard Dolgon recently revealed that the game is close to a go, with the Comets-Crunch rivalry at center stage.
With potential college hockey games between Utica College and Oswego, as well as a Syracuse women's contest on the agenda, the fan base of central New York would be treated to a full slate of unique hockey.
"The Utica guys are really into it," Dolgon said to syracuse.com. "They want to be a part of it. People in Utica are familiar with the Carrier Dome."
For now, however, we will maintain the small scale setting, the final chapter of the first of many books to be written about these two teams. But with how the two teams have played in these kind of buildings to date, it certainly can't be considered a consolation prize.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2014
- Kings Recall Vey - Manchester Monarchs
- Canadiens Recall Beaulieu from Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Iowa Wild Signs Goalie Cody Reichard to PTO - Iowa Wild
- Anastas Accepts Head Coaching Position with University of Lethbridge - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Thruway Throwdown Concludes Saturday - Utica Comets
- Comets Add Princeton's Andrew Calof - Utica Comets
- April 18th Pirates Game vs. Albany Rescheduled - Albany Devils
- April 18th Pirates Game vs. Albany Rescheduled - Portland Pirates
- Corbin Bernsen to Help Ads Celebrate 25th Anniversary of Major League - Milwaukee Admirals
- Weekend Preview: Games 70, 71 vs. Rockford IceHogs - Abbotsford Heat
- Sound Tigers Announce Roster Moves - Bridgeport Islanders
- Marc Cantin Reassigned to Stockton (ECHL) - Bridgeport Islanders
- B-Sens Host Back-To-Back Promo Nights Saturday & Sunday - Binghamton Senators
- Wolf Pack Sign Defenseman Justin Baker to ATO - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Sign Rust to ATO - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
