The star hockey player from Rhode Island, whose family was tragically killed by his transgender father at a game last month, scored the decisive goal that propelled his team to the championship. Colin Dorgan, the captain of Blackstone Valley School, netted the winning goal in double overtime in Providence on Wednesday night, leading his team to the Division II final. Dorgan, a senior defenseman who wears a patch on his uniform bearing the initials of his late mother, brother, and grandfather, described the moment as "the greatest of my life," as reported by WPRI.
During the game, Dorgan found himself in a scoring position and capitalized on a pass to score the winning goal with just 48 seconds left in double overtime. Expressing his emotions after the game, Dorgan shared, "My good buddy fed me the puck, and I could hear the crowd. It was a surreal moment."
The head coach of Blackstone Valley School, Chris Librizzi, was moved to tears as he witnessed Dorgan's winning goal. Reflecting on the moment, Librizzi said, "I literally cried like a baby, the floodgates opened. When I saw him open, I knew he was golden."
The tragic incident occurred on February 16 at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, where Dorgan's father, Robert Dorgan, opened fire during the game, resulting in the deaths of his ex-wife, Rhonda Dorgan; their son, Aidan Dorgan; and Rhonda's father, Gerald Dorgan. Two others, including Gerald's wife Linda and a family friend named Thomas Geruso, were critically injured in the shooting before the gunman took his own life.
Robert Dorgan, who had recently undergone gender reassignment and identified as transgender, had a tumultuous history with his family, leading to various court battles prior to the tragic incident. It was revealed that the gunman shared surnames with his in-laws due to his marriage to his first cousin once removed in 1992.
Despite the profound loss he experienced, Colin Dorgan expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of his teammates, whom he described as his brothers. The team rallied around Dorgan, and their unity was a source of strength during the difficult period following the shooting.
Following the championship-clinching goal, fans at Providence College's Schneider Arena erupted in celebration. Dorgan acknowledged the support of the crowd, gesturing with open arms and mouthing "Let's go" in a moment captured on video by WPRI. Reflecting on the overwhelming support he received, Dorgan stated, "I know every person out there loves me, and I love them, too."
0 Comments