Lightning has struck thrice for a Mission hockey player. 

Gage Goncalves returned to his home province over the weekend to play the Vancouver Canucks after returning to the big leagues.  The Tampa Bay Lightning forward was recalled to the NHL from the AHL鈥檚 Syracuse Crunch for the third time this season on Nov. 19.  

Since his first call-up of the campaign on Nov. 5, Goncalves has played in 13 games for Tampa, averaging just over 13 minutes on the ice and firing 10 shots on goal. 

Goncalves tallied his first NHL point against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 21 after Conor Geekie tipped a Goncalves shot past the goalie on the power play. 

In Vancouver on Saturday (Dec. 7), the Mission product played just under nine minutes of action in a 4-2 Lightning victory. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting to be so close to home and a bunch of my family members,鈥� Goncalves told Tampa Bay Lightning staff in an interview prior to the game. 

Goncalves said he was a diehard Canucks fan as a kid, admiring the Sedins and Mason Raymond. He would attend games once or twice every year with his father. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 kinda cool just coming back here and being able to play on the ice [after] watching some of my favourite players play here growing up. So yeah, it鈥檚 been pretty cool so far,鈥� he said. 

Dozens of Goncalves鈥� family showed up to watch him suit up for the Lightning. 

鈥淚 think [it鈥檚 more special],鈥� Goncalves said. 鈥淛ust so many memories in this building over the years watching the Canucks and [it] kinda got me into hockey as a kid, so sharing the ice with them and being here at this level is always super exciting.鈥�

Goncalves made his NHL debut with the Lightning last season against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 11. He made one more appearance before returning to the Crunch. 

He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft.  Goncalves previously played for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL and Yale Secondary in Abbotsford.

Goncalves has 217 career AHL games under his belt with the Crunch, tallying 43 goals and 151 points. He was named an AHL All-Star for the North Division last season.  

Additionally, he appeared in 17 career Calder Cup Playoff games with Syracuse, producing four goals and 12 points.

Goncalves and Tampa Bay visit Edmonton on Tuesday (Dec. 10) at 6 p.m. PT.