RI hockey player whose family members were killed by trans shooter helps his team win championship

Colin Dorgan stepped up for his Rhode Island high school ice hockey team once again, and this time it came in the championship game.

Dorgan scored the tying goal for Blackstone Valley schools with less than a minute left in the third period against Lincoln High School in the Division 2 boys state championship. This led to four harrowing overtime periods before Blackstone finally won the game, 3-2, and clinched the championship.

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He helped Blackstone Valley reach the championship game last week when he scored the winning goal in double overtime.

Wednesday’s moment came weeks after a tragic shooting occurred during one of their games in Rhode Island. A shooter identified by police as Robert Dorgan shot and killed his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan, at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket. His son Aidan Dorgan and his father, Gerald Dorgan, were also fatally wounded in the shooting.

The shooter, who identified as transgender, was also named Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, authorities said, adding that the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dorgan said after the championship that he was nervous about returning, but he had immense support from family, friends and teammates to get him off the couch and back on the ice.

“Throughout the entire playoffs, even this game and overtime, I really felt in my heart and soul that they are still with me,” Dorgan said. “I love you so much.”

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Blackstone Valley head coach Chris Librizzi was excited before the game began.

“It’s just a game for Lincoln High School and for everyone who comes here, but for us who lived through that shooting? It’s our lives. It’s a tragedy that we all went through and are still recovering from,” he said.

Librizzi gave the team the option of not returning after the shooting and encouraged anyone who made the decision to walk away from the team to report to the bench or in the stands.

All the players returned.

“I texted Colin saying, ‘Dude, the playoffs are this Friday night, it’s up to you,'” Librizzi said. “He didn’t respond all day, but around 9 p.m., he texted me saying, ‘Coach, I’ll see you tomorrow at practice.'”

Dorgan credited his sister, Ava, for helping him overcome misery.

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“She’s very tough, she’s a tough girl. And I thank her because she totally filled my mom’s shoes,” he said. “Over time, you get back into a cycle where you have to get off the couch. That’s the first and most important step toward recovery.”

The News contributed to this report.

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