High school senior hockey player Colin Dorgan, who lost three family members in a tragic ice rink shooting in Rhode Island last month, clinched a crucial victory for the Blackstone Valley Co-op team by scoring the winning goal in double overtime during the semifinals in Providence, R.I.
Colin Dorgan was on the ice playing alongside his teammates when his mother, Rhonda Dorgan, and brother, Aidan Dorgan, were fatally shot during a targeted attack at a hockey game on Feb. 16 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His grandfather, Gerald Dorgan, also succumbed to his injuries later on, while two others sustained severe injuries.
Authorities have identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, who took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Robert Dorgan was known by the aliases Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano.
Following the tragic incident, all high school sports activities in Rhode Island were postponed for a week. However, the Blackstone Valley team returned to the ice earlier this month, with players wearing jerseys adorned with hearts bearing the initials of the three deceased family members.
In a poignant moment, Colin Dorgan, with a patch on his jersey bearing the initials of his late mother, brother, and grandfather, scored the game-winning goal in double overtime, propelling his team to the championship. The game against Portsmouth ended with a 3-2 victory for Blackstone Valley, with Dorgan’s breakaway goal sealing the win.
Describing the emotional victory, Dorgan expressed to WPRI-TV, “It was the greatest moment of my life.”
Law enforcement officials disclosed that the shooter had specifically targeted family members. Several individuals who quickly intervened and subdued the attacker have been commended for their bravery. Amid the chaos, three bystanders managed to contain the shooter while the crowd scattered around them.
In addition to the tragic losses, Rhonda Dorgan’s mother, Linda Dorgan, and a family friend named Thomas Geruso, also sustained injuries during the shooting.