Blackstone Valley Hockey Team Wins State Title After Tragedy

Team captain Colin Dorgan leads squad to championship just weeks after his family was killed in ice rink shooting.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 11:00am

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The Blackstone Valley Co-op high school hockey team won the Division 2 boys' state championship in Rhode Island, just weeks after a shooting at their home ice rink killed three members of team captain Colin Dorgan's family. Despite the tragedy, Dorgan and his teammates persevered, with Dorgan scoring the game-tying goal in the final minutes to force overtime, before his teammate Jaxon Boyes netted the winning goal.

Why it matters

The team's championship victory provided a much-needed moment of triumph and catharsis for the close-knit hockey community that was rocked by the shocking violence at their home rink. The win also showcased the resilience and determination of the players, especially team captain Colin Dorgan, who lost his mother, brother, and grandfather in the shooting.

The details

On February 16, a shooting erupted at the Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team's home ice rink in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, killing three members of team captain Colin Dorgan's family - his mother Rhonda, brother Aidan, and grandfather Gerald. The shooter, Robert Dorgan, Colin's father, died by apparent suicide. Despite the tragedy, the team continued their season, with Colin Dorgan leading the way. In the state championship game, Dorgan scored the game-tying goal in the final minutes to force overtime, before his teammate Jaxon Boyes netted the winning goal in the fourth overtime period, securing the Division 2 title for Blackstone Valley.

  • The shooting at the Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team's home ice rink occurred on February 16, 2026.
  • The team won the Division 2 boys' state championship on March 19, 2026, just weeks after the tragedy.

The players

Colin Dorgan

The team captain of the Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team, whose mother, brother, and grandfather were killed in the shooting at the team's home ice rink.

Jaxon Boyes

A player on the Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team who scored the game-winning goal in the fourth overtime period of the state championship game.

Chris Librizzi

The head coach of the Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team, who decided to continue the season in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Robert Dorgan

The shooter who killed Colin Dorgan's mother, brother, and grandfather at the team's home ice rink before dying by apparent suicide.

Rhonda Dorgan

Colin Dorgan's mother, who was killed in the shooting at the team's home ice rink.

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What they’re saying

“It's just a game for Lincoln High School and for everybody that's coming here, but for us who lived through that shooting? It's our lives. It's a tragedy we all went through and are still healing from it.”

— Chris Librizzi, Head Coach, Blackstone Valley Co-op Hockey Team

“It's our lives. It's a tragedy we all went through and are still healing from it.”

— Chris Librizzi, Head Coach, Blackstone Valley Co-op Hockey Team

What’s next

The Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team will be honored at a special ceremony in their hometown, where the community will come together to celebrate their championship victory and remember the victims of the tragic shooting.

The takeaway

The Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team's championship win in the face of unimaginable tragedy is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the healing power of sports. Their triumph serves as an inspiration to communities everywhere that are grappling with senseless violence and loss.