Bruins Honor Rhode Island Champions After Mass Shooting Kills Captain's Family

Colin Dorgan stood at center ice at Warrior Ice Arena on Monday, surrounded by the Boston Bruins, just days after he and his teammates had done something no champion should have to do: win a state title while carrying a grief few athletes ever face.

Last month, Dorgan's mother Rhonda, brother Aidan, and grandfather Gerald were killed when a gunman opened fire inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, as Dorgan played in one of Blackstone Valley's games, sending players and fans scattering outside the rink. Police identified Robert Dorgan as the shooter who killed ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and son Aidan Dorgan on February 16 in the stands. Authorities said the shooting was targeted. Colin Dorgan's grandfather Gerald Dorgan was also shot and later died from his wounds, and two others were severely injured. The shooter died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In the weeks since, Dorgan not only repeatedly laced up his skates as team captain but performed so well that he helped propel his team to the Division 2 boys' state championship, where they won Wednesday 3-2. In the title game at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, Dorgan pushed the game to overtime with the tying goal with 30 seconds left before teammate Jaxon Boyes scored the game-winner in quadruple OT. The entire team wore a red heart on their jerseys with the initials of Dorgan's relatives.

After the final buzzer, Dorgan did not hold back. "Throughout all of the playoffs, even this game and the overtimes, I truly felt it in my heart and my soul that they're still with me," Dorgan said. "I love them so much."

The Bruins then invited the Rhode Island Division II State Champion hockey team to Warrior Ice Arena, giving them a chance to get on the ice with the NHL club, tour the behind-the-scenes of their facilities, including meeting with David Pastrnak in the training room, and interact with players they've only seen on TV. Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said the players were especially thrilled to see Pastrnak in the training room getting a massage, with the kids asking what kind of car he drives. "That was probably the best moment today," Sturm said.

During practice, the Blackstone players roared for each Bruin as they filed onto the ice one by one, and inside the locker room they interacted easily, if giddily, with the Bruins as they came off the ice. Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman, who gave Dorgan a big hug in the locker room, captured what the afternoon meant to the NHL club. "What they've been through, the hockey world is such a tight-knit community, it's a family, and whenever we get an opportunity like this, we really cherish it. It's so cool to have these guys in the locker room and to see their excitement and really enjoy the good things that hockey brings every day."

Defenseman Mason Lohrei saw the visit as proof that the sport's culture transcends levels. "It's pretty cool to have that opportunity to come in and watch us and just hang out. We're all just hockey players hanging out," Lohrei said. "I always think it's funny that no matter how old you are, when you get together as a group, it's the exact same thing, as it always has been. It's cool to have them here today."

Senior Camden Governo reflected on where the team stands now. "There's nothing better than the community we have. We're still moving forward, we're still recovering, but we're definitely doing good after that championship win," he said. Of his captain, Governo was direct: "That's our brother, we love him more than anyone, and we're keeping him in our hearts."

Coach Chris Librizzi, who required at least 10 consecutive days of counseling for both him and his players after the shooting, reflected on what kept the team going. "If it wasn't for sports, if it wasn't for hockey, I don't know how we would have gotten through this," he said. Librizzi credited the team's longtime motto: "Don't give up, don't ever give up," a phrase attributed to Jim Valvano that he said had guided the program for 12 years.

Dorgan spoke about his surviving family pulling together. "We're suffering all this loss together and we're going to get through it together," he said, adding that he will head to Bryant University in the fall. "My mom definitely wanted me to pursue college and I think I'm going to college for her, really," he said.

Blackstone Valley is a co-op team and for the spring season, the players will scatter a bit. Dorgan, from North Providence, will play lacrosse. But the bonds made during this season will not be broken.