The Boston Bruins opened their doors on Monday for a group of high school hockey players who have shown remarkable strength in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
The Bruins invited the Blackstone Valley Co-op team, Rhode Island’s Division II state champions, to Warrior Ice Arena for a day that included getting on the ice with the NHL club, a tour of the facility and a chance to meet players they had only seen on television. David Pastrnak spent time with them in the training room, a moment that stood out as one of the highlights of the visit.
Blackstone Valley had won the state championship just five days earlier, tying the game with about 30 seconds left in regulation on a goal from Colin Dorgan before winning in quadruple overtime.
One month before that championship run, Colin’s mother Rhonda Dorgan, brother Aidan Dorgan and grandfather Gerald Dorgan were killed in a shooting in the stands during the team’s Senior Day game on February 16 at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Providence. Colin’s father Robert Dorgan was identified by police as the shooter and was also killed.
The jerseys the team wore during the championship game featured a red heart patch with the initials of the three family members who lost their lives.
Team co-captain Camden Governo said the support the community has shown means everything.
“We’re still moving forward. We’re still recovering. But we’re definitely doing good after that championship win,” Governo said. “These are all my brothers. I love all these guys.”
Colin Dorgan reflected on what his teammates have meant through it all.
“These people right here, they’re really not just my teammates. They’re more brothers to me,” Dorgan said. “We won together, we lost together. We’re all in it together.”
Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said hosting the team was something the organization cherished.
“The hockey world is such a tight-knit community, it’s a family, and whenever we get an opportunity like this, we really cherish it,” Swayman said. “What they’ve been through, it’s so cool to have these guys in the locker room.”
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