Colin Dorgan is set to compete in the Rhode Island Division 2 boys’ state championship on Wednesday, but the occasion will be bittersweet. Three seats that would normally be filled by his family—his mother, brother, and grandfather—will remain empty due to a tragic shooting incident that occurred on February 16.
### A Tragic Loss
The shooting incident took place at an ice rink in Pawtucket during a game involving Dorgan and his Blackstone Valley Co-op teammates. Robert Dorgan, Colin’s father, was identified as the shooter, who targeted his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, and their son, Aidan Dorgan, in the stands during the game. Colin’s grandfather, Gerald Dorgan, was also shot and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Two additional individuals were severely injured in the attack.
Authorities have indicated that the incident was premeditated. The chaotic scene drew the attention of nearby bystanders, who intervened in an effort to restrain the shooter. Robert Dorgan ultimately took his own life following the attack.
### Community Response and Resilience
The incident has deeply affected the local hockey community, prompting questions about the future of the season. Despite the ongoing trauma, Colin Dorgan has shown remarkable resilience, leading his team as captain while earning recognition for his performance. He scored the decisive goal in double overtime during a playoff game, propelling Blackstone Valley Co-op into the championship match against Lincoln High School.
Coach Chris Librizzi, a veteran of over three decades in coaching and a retired firefighter, expressed the challenges faced by the team in the aftermath of the shooting. He organized a break for the players and ensured they received professional counseling for ten days. Each player was given the option to step away from the game, but Librizzi encouraged them to continue supporting the team from the bench or stands if they chose not to play.
“Every player came back,” Librizzi shared, noting that Colin took longer than his teammates to make his decision. “I sent Colin a text saying, ‘Bud, playoffs are this Friday night, it’s your call.’ He responded later that night, saying, ‘Coach, I’ll see you tomorrow at practice.’”
### The Road Ahead
Though the path forward has been anything but straightforward, Librizzi reported that practices have been emotional, often interrupted by players processing their grief. “There have been tears, from the coach to family members to even unconnected people following the team from afar,” he remarked.
As the team prepares for their final match, questions linger about the future and how the players will continue to cope with their loss. Regardless of the championship’s outcome, the sense of community support has been palpable. Many from the Rhode Island area have displayed hockey sticks outside their homes as a sign of solidarity, and friends have worked to customize the team jerseys by adding hearts with the initials of the three victims.
Librizzi emphasized the importance of unity: “We just need to be family with each other, we need to be supportive of each other moving forward and to heal from this.”
Colin Dorgan, despite facing an overwhelming personal tragedy, serves as an embodiment of strength and determination, as his team moves forward in pursuit of a state championship. The March 1 game against Lincoln High School will not only represent athletic competition but also a testament to resilience in the face of devastating loss.
Source: Original Reporting
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