Colin Dorgan: Latest News, Career & Updates (2026)

On the night of March 18, 2026, Colin Dorgan etched his name into Rhode Island sports history — not just for what he accomplished on the ice, but for the extraordinary courage it took to get there. The Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team captain scored a dramatic game-tying goal with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation, helping his team claim the Rhode Island Division 2 state championship 3-2 in quadruple overtime against Lincoln High School. The victory came just over a month after an unthinkable tragedy: a shooting at the team's senior night game that killed Dorgan's mother, brother, and grandfather.

The Tragedy That Shook a Community

On February 16, 2026, what should have been a celebratory evening turned catastrophic. During Blackstone Valley Co-op's senior night game at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a shooting erupted in the stands. Colin Dorgan's mother, Rhonda Dorgan, and his brother, Aidan Dorgan, were both killed in the attack. Two other individuals were severely injured.

According to police, the shooter was identified as Robert Dorgan — Colin's father — who also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano. Robert Dorgan died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooting was ultimately stopped after bystanders bravely rushed the shooter as panicked crowds fled the arena.

The tragedy compounded further in the weeks that followed. On February 25, 2026, Colin's grandfather, Gerald Dorgan, succumbed to the gunshot wounds he had sustained that night. In a matter of days, Colin had lost three of his closest family members to an act of violence that unfolded right before his eyes — at his own hockey game.

As reported by the Baltimore Sun, the shooting left the entire hockey community reeling, raising urgent questions about how a team — and a grieving teenager — could possibly continue.

A Captain Who Chose to Keep Playing

Colin Dorgan is a high school senior who had already earned the captaincy of his team before tragedy struck. In the aftermath of the shooting, the question of whether to continue the season was deeply personal. Yet Dorgan and his teammates made a collective decision: they would play on — for each other, and for the family members they had lost.

The choice was not easy. Dorgan carried the weight of grief openly. On his jersey, he wore a heart-shaped patch bearing the initials of his mother Rhonda, his brother Aidan, and his grandfather Gerald — a quiet, visible tribute to the people he was playing for every time he stepped on the ice.

Aidan Dorgan's fiancée, Starr Sroka, attended the championship game. Aidan and Starr had been planning to marry that summer. Her presence in the stands added yet another layer of emotional depth to an already extraordinary night.

Head coach Chris Librizzi, a retired firefighter who had seen his share of hardship, guided the team through the unimaginable. His steady leadership helped the players channel their grief into purpose.

A Playoff Run for the Ages

Even before the championship game, Colin Dorgan had been making headlines. Earlier in the playoff run, he scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to advance Blackstone Valley Co-op to the state title game. It was a foreshadowing of what was to come — a player performing at his peak under the most crushing of circumstances.

In the championship game itself, played at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, the drama was relentless. Facing Lincoln High School in a tightly contested battle, Blackstone Valley Co-op found themselves needing a miracle late in regulation. With just 30 seconds left on the clock, Colin Dorgan delivered — scoring the goal that tied the game and forced overtime.

What followed was an extraordinary display of endurance and will. The teams battled through four overtime periods before Jaxon Boyes finally ended it, potting the championship-winning goal to secure a 3-2 victory. Goalie Jacob Faria was nothing short of heroic across the two playoff matches, stopping an astonishing 88 shots to keep his team alive.

For full coverage of the championship run, WSBTV has detailed reporting on how the team rallied to claim the title.

Brotherhood: How the Team Held Together

In the weeks between the shooting and the championship, what kept Blackstone Valley Co-op going was something coaches and athletes talk about but rarely see tested so severely: genuine brotherhood.

The players rallied around Colin with a loyalty that went beyond sport. Practices became a refuge. Games became a way to honor the fallen. Every shift, every save, every goal carried meaning far beyond the scoreboard.

"Colin Dorgan and his Blackstone Valley hockey 'brothers' stuck together after tragedy" — as the Journal Sentinel reported, the bond between these players defined the entire championship run.

The story resonated far beyond Rhode Island. It spread across national sports media because it captured something fundamental about human resilience — the idea that even in the face of devastation, people can find a way to stand up, show up, and compete with everything they have.

National Reaction and Legacy

The championship win on March 18, 2026 quickly became one of the most discussed sports stories in the country. Coverage appeared across major outlets as readers and viewers were moved by the combination of tragedy, perseverance, and ultimately, triumph.

As covered by MSN Sports, the story of Blackstone Valley Co-op transcended hockey — it became a story about grief, community, and the healing power of shared purpose.

For Colin Dorgan specifically, the championship represents something that no trophy can fully capture. It is a testament to a young man who refused to let tragedy define him, who wore his grief on his jersey and channeled it into one of the most memorable performances in Rhode Island high school sports history.

The broader community of Blackstone Valley — a cooperative school district encompassing several towns — came together in support of the team throughout the playoff run. The championship was not just Blackstone Valley Co-op's; it belonged to everyone who had followed this team's improbable, heartbreaking, inspiring journey. Read more about the community reaction at MSN.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colin Dorgan

Who is Colin Dorgan?

Colin Dorgan is a high school senior and team captain for the Blackstone Valley Co-op hockey team in Rhode Island. He gained national attention after leading his team to the Rhode Island Division 2 state championship in March 2026, just weeks after a shooting at his team's senior night game killed his mother, brother, and grandfather.

What happened at the Blackstone Valley Co-op senior night game?

On February 16, 2026, a shooting occurred in the stands of Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket during Blackstone Valley Co-op's senior night hockey game. The shooter, identified as Robert Dorgan — Colin's father — killed Colin's mother Rhonda and brother Aidan. Colin's grandfather Gerald Dorgan was also shot and died on February 25. Robert Dorgan died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

How did Blackstone Valley Co-op win the state championship?

Blackstone Valley Co-op defeated Lincoln High School 3-2 in quadruple overtime on March 18, 2026, at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. Colin Dorgan scored the game-tying goal with 30 seconds left in regulation. Jaxon Boyes scored the championship-winning goal in the fourth overtime period. Goalie Jacob Faria made 88 saves across the two playoff games.

What was the significance of the patch on Colin Dorgan's jersey?

Colin Dorgan wore a heart-shaped patch on his jersey bearing the initials of his mother Rhonda, his brother Aidan, and his grandfather Gerald — the three family members killed in the February 16 shooting. It was a personal tribute he carried with him onto the ice throughout the playoff run.

Who scored the winning goal in the championship game?

Jaxon Boyes scored the championship-winning goal for Blackstone Valley Co-op in the fourth overtime period, securing the 3-2 victory over Lincoln High School and giving the team the Rhode Island Division 2 state title.

Conclusion

Colin Dorgan's story is one that will be remembered long after the final buzzer of the 2026 Rhode Island high school hockey season. A teenager who lost his mother, brother, and grandfather to a shooting at his own game, yet chose to lace up his skates and lead his team — wearing their initials over his heart — to a state championship. The goal with 30 seconds left. The quadruple overtime. The 88 saves. The winning goal. Each moment feels almost impossible, and yet it all happened.

What Blackstone Valley Co-op did in March 2026 was not just win a hockey championship. They demonstrated that even in the darkest of circumstances, a group of young people bound together by loyalty and love can find a way to honor those they've lost — and do something extraordinary in their name.