High School Hockey Star's Triumph Follows Family Tragedy at Rhode Island Arena
In a story of profound resilience, a high school hockey star has led his team to a state championship title merely a month after his transgender father fatally shot three members of their family during a game. Colin Dorgan, aged 17, was on the ice at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, when the horrific incident unfolded on February 16.
The Tragic Shooting and Its Aftermath
Robert Dorgan, 56, who also identified as Roberta Esposito, carried out the rampage that claimed the lives of Colin's mother Rhonda, 52, his brother Aidan, 23, and his grandfather Gerald. The shooter ultimately turned the gun on himself, ending the violence as his teenage son witnessed the tragedy. Rhonda died at the scene, while Aidan and Gerald later succumbed to their injuries. Additionally, Colin's grandmother Linda and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were critically injured in the attack.
In the days leading up to the bloodbath, online profiles believed to belong to Robert Dorgan posted ominous warnings. One eerie video showed a woman loading ammunition magazines into a handgun while on a treadmill, and another post on X, under the name 'Roberta Dorgano', threatened to go 'BERSERK' in defense of transgender Congresswoman Sarah McBride.
A Championship Run Inspired by Angels
Despite the trauma, Colin Dorgan returned to the ice weeks later, helping the Blackstone Valley Co-op secure victory in the Rhode Island Division II championship. He scored the crucial goal that propelled his team to the final and, in the championship game against Lincoln, netted the game-tying goal with less than a minute left in regulation. Blackstone Valley went on to win in overtime, with Dorgan and head coach Chris Librizzi attributing their success to 'angels' inspiring their run.
'Throughout all of the playoffs, even this game and the overtimes, I truly felt it in my heart and my soul that they're still with me,' Dorgan said, pointing to a heart-shaped patch on his jersey bearing the initials of his mother, brother, and grandfather. 'I love them so much, and they're still here and I know it.'
Community Support and Moving Forward
The Rhode Island Interscholastic League was briefly suspended following the tragedy, and Dorgan admitted to feeling nervous about returning to hockey. However, support from his teammates and community helped him back onto the ice. Coach Librizzi recalled sending a text about playoffs, to which Dorgan eventually replied, 'Coach I'll see you tomorrow at practice.'
Reflecting on his goal that sent Blackstone Valley to the championship game, Dorgan told WPRI, 'My good buddy fed me the puck and I could hear the crowd... it was a surreal moment.' He described it as 'the greatest moment of my life.'
A GoFundMe page was established by Rhonda's stepdaughter, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, to support the family. 'The weight of this loss is something no one should ever have to bear, especially at such young ages,' she wrote, noting that Colin and his sister Ava are determined to continue their education and honor their loved ones' memory.
