In Pawtucket last February a shooter opened fire at a rink and killed multiple family members, but one young player turned a night of immense pain into a moment of on-ice celebration by scoring a dramatic game-winner that pushed his team into a state final.
What happened at Dennis M. Lynch Arena stunned the Rhode Island hockey community and the families involved. Officials said a man identified as Robert Dorgan opened fire during Blackstone Valley’s senior day game and investigators concluded he targeted relatives among the spectators. The attack left multiple people dead and others critically injured, and the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The human toll was devastating and immediate, touching players, coaches and fans who had gathered to mark the season. Authorities later confirmed that Dorgan’s brother, mother and grandfather were killed and that the motive involved targeting family members in the crowd. Two other victims were listed in critical condition after the incident, and the community began the long work of grieving and supporting survivors.
Amid that grief, the team’s senior forward, Colin Dorgan, delivered an unforgettable performance on the ice less than a month after the shooting. He converted a breakaway in double overtime to lift Blackstone Valley Co-op to a 3-2 win over Portsmouth, a goal that punched the team’s ticket to the Rhode Island Division II hockey final. The moment was electric: teammates poured onto the ice and the crowd at Schneider Arena erupted in applause and cheers for the play and the player.
The hockey player who lost three family members in a mass shooting at a Rhode Island rink last month played the role of hero for his team Wednesday night.
Senior Colin Dorgan scored on a breakaway in double overtime, lifting Blackstone Valley Co-op to a 3-2 victory over Portsmouth and advancing into the Rhode Island Division 2 hockey final.
“Greatest moment of my life,” Dorgan told WPRI TV after his goal sent teammates pouring onto the ice in celebration and fans at Schneider Arena in Providence roaring with applause.
A month earlier, Dorgan’s brother, mother and grandfather were killed when a shooter, identified as Robert Dorgan, opened fire on spectators at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during Blackstone Valley’s senior day game. Officials have said the shooter, who died of a self-inflicted gun wound, was specifically targeting family members. Two others were critically injured.
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“The biggest thing for us after the tragedy took place was to keep them together as a family,” coach Chris Librizzi told WPRI. ”
“How much better can that be, right there?” added Coach Librizzi. The question landed like the rest of the night: simple, human and full of emotion, reflecting what the team and the community felt as they watched the celebration. Librizzi has been vocal about keeping the group close through the weeks after the shooting, and the win felt like a small, fierce victory for that effort.
The scene on the ice and in the stands showed how sports can become a focal point for repair and a place to channel complex feelings. Fans who had been in shock returned to Schneider Arena to cheer an overtime winner and to recognize the courage it took to suit up and play under such circumstances. Players and coaches emphasized sticking together and supporting one another as the season pushed toward its conclusion.
Local coaches and teammates described the night as a necessary reminder that life on and off the ice remains intertwined, especially in small communities where everyone knows one another. The victory does not erase what happened that tragic day, but it did give Colin Dorgan and his teammates a moment of solidarity and a chance to feel the kind of collective triumph that sports can sometimes provide. As the team prepares for the next challenge, the focus remains on keeping relationships intact and honoring those who were lost through continued support and presence at games.
