Gallucci’s Third-Period Goal Lifts Canisius Hockey Past LIU in Gritty Home Opener

By: Mackenzie Guarscio | East Meadow, NY | October 9, 2026 |

East Meadow, NY—The Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow, NY, hosted a dramatic showcase of collegiate hockey on Friday night as the LIU Brooklyn Sharks and the Canisius Golden Griffins battled in a back-and-forth thriller. Junior defenseman Jason Gallucci’s power-play goal early in the third period broke a deadlock and propelled Canisius to a 3-2 victory, capping a contest filled with momentum swings, standout goaltending, and the kind of grit that defines championship programs.

Setting the Stage: Opener with High Stakes

Friday’s tilt marked only the third meeting between LIU and Canisius, with the series now tilting 2-1 in favor of the Griffins—both wins coming by a single goal. The Sharks, eager to rebound from two hard-fought losses to #5 Minnesota Duluth, entered their home opener looking for their first win of the season. For Canisius, the contest marked the start of a daunting 10-game road swing, and they arrived buoyed by a 1-0-1 start and a 4-0 shutout of Ferris State.

With 422 fans in attendance and the LIU women’s hockey team lending their support from the stands, every shift felt pivotal.

First Period: Fireworks and Answers

The game began with end-to-end action and no shortage of scoring chances. Canisius opened the tally at 7:05, as sophomore Carter Anderson pounced on a loose puck during a net-front scramble, notching his first of the season. The goal was set up by L-P Fontaine and FJ Buteau, both of whom extended their point streaks to three games.

The Sharks wasted little time in responding. Just over three minutes later, Sixten Jennersjö buried a rebound to tie the game at 1-1, capitalizing on pressure created by Alexis Bourque and Jaden Dyke.

Canisius swung back four minutes later. Junior Carter Patterson ripped a wrist shot from the high slot, beating LIU’s Daniel Duris to restore the Griffins’ lead at 2-1. The goal was Patterson’s first of the season and marked a special moment for freshman Ryan Franks, a Roslyn, NY native, who earned his first collegiate point with the primary assist in his debut.

But the seesaw continued. With under three minutes left in the period, Brennan Nelson found space in the slot and slipped a shot under Canisius netminder Jack Lisson, tying the game 2-2. Nelson’s first of the season was set up by Luca Leighton and Isaac Lambert.

Statistically, LIU controlled much of the play, outshooting Canisius 13-8 and dominating faceoffs 15-6. Both teams showed a flair for quick responses and opportunistic offense.

Second Period: Goaltenders and Special Teams Shine

The second stanza proved a chess match, with both teams trading extended shifts in the offensive zone, yet neither able to break through. LIU applied sustained pressure, firing another 12 shots, but Lisson continued to impress, finishing the period with 23 saves on 25 shots.

The period was punctuated by physicality—especially a heavy collision that temporarily sidelined Canisius defenseman Ryan Franks, who later returned to bolster the blue line. Special teams loomed large as both squads traded power plays (Canisius 0-2, LIU 0-2 through two), but penalty-kill units held firm, with the Griffins blocking shots and Lisson turning aside everything in his crease.

By the close of forty minutes, the deadlock persisted at 2-2. LIU led in shots (25-19) and faceoffs (28-13), but the scoreboard told of a contest balanced on a knife’s edge.

Third Period: Gallucci Seals It

Momentum shifted early in the third. LIU head coach Brett Riley made a goaltending change, inserting Lukas Renaud for Duris, who stopped 19 of 21 shots in the opening 42 minutes. Just over four minutes in, Canisius went to the power play after Alexis Bourque was whistled for holding. The Griffins wasted no time: Gallucci unloaded a point shot through traffic that beat Renaud to the glove side at 4:57, registering both his first of the season and first career game-winner. Noah Quinn and Ethan Wolthers provided the assists.

From there, Canisius clamped down defensively, led by Lisson’s 10 third-period saves and persistent shot blocking from the blue line. Despite a late push from the Sharks—which included several quality chances from Nelson, Jennersjö, and Lambert—the Griffs’ defense and Lisson’s poise proved insurmountable.

Postgame: Quotes and Reflections

Head coach Trevor Large praised his team’s resilience:

Large also reflected on the special moment for freshman Ryan Franks, who made his collegiate debut and notched his first career point in front of family and friends:

“It’s something that they will never forget, and I’m happy he played well in front of family and friends on what was a special night for him and his loved ones.”

Statbook & Game Notes

• Final Score: Canisius 3, LIU 2
• Shots on Goal: LIU 35, Canisius 27
• Faceoffs: LIU 42, Canisius 21
• Power Plays: Canisius 1-for-3, LIU 0-for-2
• Attendance: 422
• Notables:
  • Gallucci’s first career game-winner
  • Franks’ collegiate debut and first point
  • Cole Gordon’s 100th career game for Canisius
  • Both Buteau and Fontaine extended point streaks to three games
  • Wolthers leads Canisius with three assists on the season

Looking Ahead

The teams complete their two-game series Saturday at Northwell Health Ice Center, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Sharks will be looking for redemption, while Canisius seeks to continue its perfect start on the road.