High school hockey player Colin Dorgan played the role of hero for his Blackstone Valley Co-op team in the Rhode Island Division 2 state semifinals on Friday night, scoring in double overtime to lift Blackstone Valley into the championship game.
Normally, a story like Dorgan’s wouldn’t be major news. After all, high school hockey players score big goals in the state tournament all the time. But Dorgan’s story is far from normal.
In fact, he became a hero in the face of immense tragedy after losing his mother, brother, and grandfather when a mass shooter opened fire on spectators at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, during Blackstone Valley’s senior day game.
Colin Dorgan Became A High School Hockey Hero At The Toughest Of Times
Police state that the shooter, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was identified as Robert Dorgan, specifically targeted family members. Two others were critically injured.
Following the incident, all high school sports in Rhode Island were postponed for a week. Blackstone Valley’s season was postponed for almost three weeks. They returned to the ice late last week for the D-2 quarterfinals, and every player on the team has a heart stitched on the front of their jerseys, with the initials of the three who died within it.
Colin Dorgan scored twice in the quarterfinal series, helping his team reach Wednesday’s semis. Then, with his team’s season on the brink, he came up big again.
We witnessed one of the most amazing moments you’ll ever see at a high school event tonight at Schneider Arena.
Colin Dorgan, who lost his mother, brother & grandfather in the Lynch Arena shooting last month, scores a 2OT game-winner to send his team to the @RIIL_sports D-II… pic.twitter.com/wU8rBe9F2d
— Nick Coit (@NickCoit) March 12, 2026
“Greatest moment of my life,” Dorgan told WPRI TV after his goal. “These are all my brothers out her. I love these kids, and I know they love me, too.”
Blackstone Valley coach Chris Librizzi says he and his players have rallied around Dorgan in recent weeks.
“The biggest thing for us after the tragedy took place was to keep them together as a family,” Librizzi told WPRI. “I was with [Colin] every single day, and his sister, and we as a group, as well, got together for 14 days straight. And I believe it made a difference. The bonding that this team went through every day the last two weeks has been nothing less than superior.”
Blackstone Valley now has one final hurdle in the D-2 final on March 18 at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. But its story, and specifically Dorgan’s, is already one for the history books.
The post Rhode Island High School Hockey Player Becomes Hero Weeks After Horrific Family Tragedy appeared first on BroBible.
Rhode Island High School Hockey Player Becomes Hero Weeks After Horrific Family Tragedy
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