High school senior hockey player Colin Dorgan wore a patch on his jersey Wednesday, honoring the three family members he lost in a Rhode Island ice rink shooting last month.
He scored a game-winning goal in double overtime that advanced the Blackstone Valley Co-op team out of the semifinals.
The emotional victory came nearly a month after Dorgan’s mother and brother, Rhonda Dorgan and Aidan Dorgan, were killed in the targeted attack during a Feb. 16 hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A third victim, Colin Dorgan's grandfather Gerald Dorgan, later died from his injuries, and two others were severely injured.
Police identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, who died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Robert Dorgan also went by the names Roberta Esposito and Roberta Dorgano, authorities said.
After the shooting, all Rhode Island high school sports were postponed for a week. However, Blackstone Valley returned to the ice for the first time since the fatal attack earlier this month, with players donning hearts stitched on the front of their jerseys with the initials of all three who died.
After securing a playoff victory on March 7, Blackstone Valley defeated Portsmouth 3-2 on Wednesday with Colin Dorgan scoring on a breakaway in double overtime.
“It was the greatest moment of my life,” Dorgan told WPRI-TV.
Officials have said the shooter was specifically targeting family members.
Law enforcement have credited several people who intervened and quickly stopped the attack.
At least three bystanders were able to contain the shooter in the middle of the stands as the crowd fled and ran around them.
Rhonda Dorgan’s mom, Linda Dorgan, and a family friend, Thomas Geruso, were also wounded.
