Before his final start at McCann Ice Arena, Marist starting goaltender and team president Anthony Russo was not looking ahead to senior night. He was looking back.
Standing with his dad before the game, Russo reflected on the journey that brought him there.
“Since I started playing hockey, he had been bringing me to the rink,” Russo said. “We were just going through everything I’ve been through.”
Years of youth hockey. Juniors. The path that led to one final start. Marist defeated Central Connecticut State University 8-0, securing Russo’s first career shutout in his final home appearance. A fitting ending to a remarkable career.
The win also solidified Russo’s place in program history. He finished fourth all-time in saves with 1,694, becoming just the fourth goaltender to surpass the 1,500 mark, and sixth in career wins with 16.
“I was never a big stats guy,” Russo said. “I always took it game by game. So it’s cool to hear, but I definitely wasn’t thinking about it.”
While the numbers place Russo among the top goaltenders in program history, his focus after the game was not on records. Instead, his mind shifted to the people who helped him get there.
“My grandma had passed away … she was always a big supporter,” Russo said. “She would always say, ‘Whether you win or lose, I still love you. It’s just a game at the end of the day.’”
Russo also reflected on his parents, recognizing the sacrifices they made throughout his hockey career.
That perspective did not start at Marist.
Growing up on Long Island, the 24-year-old Bethpage native always had one goal in mind: play college hockey. The path was never guaranteed, but it was always the objective.
After beginning with the Long Island Royals, Russo moved on to juniors following the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in Connecticut before heading to Texas to play for the Texas Jr. Brahmas.
It was there, far from home, where his game — and his mindset — began to take shape. Living on his own forced Russo to grow up quickly, both on and off the ice.
“It definitely taught me a lot,” Russo said. “How to fend for myself … how to take care of myself … and how to deal with adversity.”
That experience translated directly to his approach in between the pipes.
“You have to be very mature to play a position like goaltending,” Russo said. “You have to stay patient and calm.”
Through the highs and lows of juniors, Russo developed the level-headed mindset that defined his career at Marist; this mentality translated directly onto the ice.
Russo developed into a highly technical yet aggressive goaltender, known for his mobility and ability to handle a heavy workload in the crease. Throughout his career, he frequently faced high shot volumes, something he learned to embrace rather than avoid.
“I’ve always liked being busy,” Russo said. “You get more experience that way.”
Russo’s impact went beyond stopping pucks. As one of the oldest players on the roster, he took on the responsibility of leading from the crease, using his voice and puck-handling ability to support the players in front of him.
“I wanted the younger guys to feel that sense of security so they could go out there and make plays with confidence,” Russo said.
In his final season, rather than having the crease all to himself, he shared it with sophomore goaltender Adam D’Errico. In D’Errico’s freshman campaign, he was the practice goalie before shifting into a 1A/1B role under current head coach Anthony LoBianco.
With less pressure from having to make back-to-back starts on a regular basis, the two fed off each other and learned how to elevate their games.
“I was just following his leadership,” D’Errico said. “It pushed me to be better every day.”
In some locker rooms, a 1A/1B split can create tension between goaltenders, but that was not the case for the Red Foxes. They leaned on each other during the highs and the lows, especially during difficult parts of the season.
“There wasn’t really any competition,” D’Errico said. “We knew what we were getting into.”
Their differences in style also played a role in their success. While Russo brought a more active, aggressive approach, D’Errico described his own game as calmer, allowing the two to complement each other while still working off one another in practice.
Off the ice, the relationship was just as important. Whether it was breaking down performances after games or offering support following a tough night, the two built a foundation rooted in mutual respect.
“We were always picking each other up,” D’Errico said. “There was never anything negative.”
While senior captain Sean Bruno led on the ice, Russo was the backbone of the program, serving as team president. Balancing both roles as president and starting goaltender, the two worked together in many facets, forming a leadership dynamic that helped set the culture for the season.
“He does a lot behind the scenes that people don’t see,” Bruno said. “He really helps the program run.”
As captain, Bruno handled the on-ice responsibilities, but often leaned on Russo for communication and organization outside the rink. Despite not wearing a letter, Russo’s presence in the locker room was just as strong.
“A lot of the younger guys looked up to him,” Bruno said. “He was one of those key leaders on the team.”
Through both roles, Russo helped create a structure that extended beyond wins and losses, shaping the culture of the program. Even with that leadership in place, the season did not unfold the way the team had envisioned; the Red Foxes ended the season with a record of 6-17-1.
Inconsistent results and difficult stretches defined the year for Marist, who did not capture back-to-back wins until the season’s final weekend. Despite that, Russo’s view of the season never wavered. His focus was never solely on results, but on growth both individually and as a group.
“It wasn’t about the wins and losses,” he said. “It was about the memories and the guys in the locker room.”
With his Marist career now behind him, Russo’s legacy extends far beyond the stat sheet.While his name will remain in the record books, it is the impact he had on the people around him that stands out most.
From mentoring younger goalies to helping shape the direction of the program as team president, Russo became more than just a presence in the net. He became a cornerstone of Marist hockey.
“It’s not about what you take from the program,” he said. “It’s about what you give.”
Edited by Mike Schiavone and Max Rosen
Photo from Niecey Kerr
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