In a moving display of resilience, high school senior hockey player Colin Dorgan, who tragically lost three family members in a shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink, scored the decisive goal in double overtime to propel the Blackstone Valley Co-op team to victory in the semifinals in Providence, R.I. The tragedy struck during a game on February 16 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where Colin’s mother, Rhonda Dorgan, and brother, Aidan Dorgan, were fatally shot in a targeted attack. Colin’s grandfather, Gerald Dorgan, succumbed to his injuries later, while two others were severely wounded.
The shooter, identified as Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Following the incident, all Rhode Island high school sports were postponed for a week. However, the Blackstone Valley team returned to the ice, paying tribute to the victims by wearing jerseys adorned with hearts bearing their initials.
In a poignant moment, Colin Dorgan, sporting a patch with the initials of his lost family members, clinched the victory with a goal in double overtime, guiding his team to the championship game. Reflecting on the emotional win, Dorgan described it as “the greatest moment of my life.” Authorities confirmed that the shooter had targeted specific family members and praised the swift actions of bystanders who intervened to contain the attacker during the chaos. Additional casualties included Linda Dorgan, Rhonda’s mother, and family friend Thomas Geruso, who sustained injuries in the tragic incident.
