Boston Bruins
“It’s a family, and whenever we get an opportunity like this, we really cherish it.”
Jeremy Swayman meets with Blackstone Valley Co-op captains Colin Dorgan, center, and Jacob Faria, goalie, second from right, during Monday’s meeting at Warrior Ice Arena. Ken McGague for the Boston Globe
Blackstone Valley Co-op senior hockey player Camden Governo tried to stifle a laugh as he answered questions from the media inside the Bruins locker room on Monday.
For all the tragedy and adversity that BVS and the greater Rhode Island community have endured over the past month, the grief of Governo and his teammates has given way to smiles — ones that seemed etched on their faces over the past week.
That continued Monday, as the BVS Knights were in attendance at Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena — where the Rhode Island Division II state champions spent plenty of time rubbing elbows and taking pictures with the NHL champs in Brighton.
“It’s amazing how the community can rally for all of us. It’s amazing how the community can rally for all of us,” Gioverno said Monday, trying to maintain his composure as teammates kept trying to pile baseball caps on top of his head in front of the cameras. And all the gifts we got, it’s so special.” “We’re so grateful for everything we got. There is nothing better than the community we have.”
(Camden Governo takes questions inside the Bruins’ locker room.)
As part of Monday’s visit, the entire BVS team had a front-row seat to practice — knocking on the glass and high-fiving the Bruins as they took to the ice for their usual morning routine.
Once practice concluded, BVS players and coaches made their way to the frozen sheet for a group photo with the Bruins, chatting and taking photos before heading to the locker room.
Bruins coach Marco Sturm enjoyed taking the team on a tour of the facility before practice, with some of the players asking David Pastrnak what types of cars he drives.
“It was great,” Sturm said with a smile. “That was probably the best moment today
Blackstone Valley enjoyed the fruits of its successful tournament, culminating in a thrilling four-overtime victory against Lincoln High School in the D-II state title game last Wednesday.
It was a Cinderella journey born of the knights’ heartbreak.
In February, Blackstone Valley captain Colin Dorgan was out on the ice for the team’s “Senior Night” when three members of his family were killed during a tragic shooting in the stands at Dennis M. Lynch Stadium in Pawtucket.
Dorgan’s teammates and the greater Rhode Island community rallied around Dorgan, with Dorgan himself playing a crucial role in the Knights’ coronation last week.
Dorgan scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to lift BVS past Portsmouth in the Rhode Island D-II semifinals — before scoring the tying goal with 32 seconds left in the championship game. Jaxon Boyes later scored in 4OT to give BVS its first state title.
“That’s our brother,” Gioverno said of Dorgan. “We love him more than anyone else, and we keep him in our hearts.”
Dorgan was present for Monday’s trip to the Warrior, where Jeremy Swayman broke up his video interview with a local news station and gave him a hug. Swayman later signed one of his jerseys for BVS captain and goalkeeper Jacob Faria.
“It’s really cool to see a local team like this come out and support the players,” Swayman said. “And obviously we do the same for them [with] What they went through. The hockey world is a tight-knit community.
“It’s a family, and whenever we get an opportunity like this, we really cherish it. It’s so great to have those guys in the locker room. Seeing their excitement and really enjoying the good things that hockey brings us every day is something we can really celebrate.”
For Sturm, Monday’s visit and the opportunity to brighten up a young hockey team on a dreary morning in Boston was a rewarding experience for the entire team.
“That’s what I love about hockey, right? About hockey teams, because we’re all the same,” Sturm said. “No one else, I can tell you that, none of the other sports, not basketball, not football, no one else at this time of year can bring a team like this in and will take them and take time and talk to them.
He added: “Nobody except hockey players. I think that shows a lot, and I’m proud to be one of them. It’s always been this way, and that’s why hockey is the best for me.”
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