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Photo of the Petey Statue outside of Science Hall on the Canisius College Campus
Ken Morey

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Canisius Athletic Department Celebrates Battle of the Bridge Championship

The Canisius athletic department officially celebrated winning the 2024-25 Canal Cup as part of the annual Battle of the Bridge rivalry series at the University's annual "Petey Awards", which were held Monday night at the Montante Cultural Center.
 
The Golden Griffins secured their 14th Battle of the Bridge championship in the program's 19-year history on April 19 after the Canisius golf team finished ahead of Niagara on the final leaderboard at the 2025 MAAC Golf Championship in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to give the Blue and Gold an 18-13 lead in the rivalry series standings with four points remaining up for grabs on this year's schedule.
 
In 2006-07, Canisius University and Niagara University developed an all-sports competition in an effort to enhance the historic rivalry between the Golden Griffins and Purple Eagles. Each year, the winning school is awarded the Canal Cup.

The name of the series is in reference to the Grand Island Bridge, which each team crosses when traveling to the other's campus. The name of the trophy is in reference to the Erie Canal, which intersects Niagara County, where Niagara is located, and Erie County, where Canisius is located.

Records indicate the two schools first met on the basketball court in 1904. Currently, Canisius and Niagara compete in baseball, men and women's basketball, men and women's cross country, golf, ice hockey, women's lacrosse, men and women's soccer, men and women's swimming and diving, softball, women's outdoor track and volleyball.

Points are awarded to the winner of regular-season contests, except for cross country, golf, swimming and diving and women's outdoor track, which are determined by final Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship (MAAC) championship results. Final results are posted on each school's official athletic department website throughout the athletic year.

For this year's standings and a full history of the Battle of the Bridge results, CLICK HERE.
 
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