Teen Who Lost 3 Family Members Scores Winning Playoff Goal

Colin Dorgan's overtime goal sends Blackstone Valley Schools to Rhode Island hockey championship game.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 11:06pm

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Colin Dorgan, a high school senior who lost his mother, brother, and grandfather in a mass shooting at a Rhode Island hockey game last month, scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send his Blackstone Valley Schools team to the state championship game. The emotional victory came just weeks after the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of Dorgan's loved ones.

Why it matters

The heartbreaking shooting at the Rhode Island hockey arena last month shook the local community. Dorgan's heroic performance and his team's advancement to the state title game provides a glimmer of hope and inspiration amid the tragedy.

The details

With the score tied 2-2 in the second overtime, Dorgan scored on a breakaway to give Blackstone Valley Schools the victory over Portsmouth and a spot in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) Division II boys ice hockey championship game. Dorgan's mother, brother, and grandfather were killed in the February shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket.

  • On February 16, a shooting at a Rhode Island hockey game claimed the lives of Dorgan's mother, brother, and grandfather.
  • On March 11, Dorgan scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to send his team to the state championship game.

The players

Colin Dorgan

A high school senior at North Providence High School who plays for the Blackstone Valley Schools co-op hockey team. He lost three family members in a mass shooting at a Rhode Island hockey arena last month.

Rhonda Dorgan

Colin Dorgan's mother, who was killed in the February shooting at the Rhode Island hockey arena.

Aidan Dorgan

Colin Dorgan's brother, who was also killed in the February shooting at the Rhode Island hockey arena.

Gerald Dorgan

Colin Dorgan's grandfather, who was killed in the February shooting at the Rhode Island hockey arena.

Robert Dorgan

The 56-year-old shooter who killed Colin Dorgan's mother, brother, and grandfather before dying by suicide during the incident.

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What they’re saying

“I'll tell you right now, there was not a dry eye in the stands when that happened.”

— Michael Lunney, RIIL executive director (NBC News)

What’s next

Blackstone Valley Schools will play Lincoln High School on Wednesday at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence for the Rhode Island Division II boys ice hockey championship.

The takeaway

Colin Dorgan's game-winning goal in the midst of his personal tragedy provided a much-needed moment of joy and inspiration for the local community still reeling from the devastating shooting. His resilience and determination to honor his lost loved ones by leading his team to the state title game is a testament to the power of sports to heal and unite in times of crisis.