New England Sports Teams Respond to Tragedy at Rhode Island Hockey Tournament
What should have been a celebration of youth hockey turned into an unthinkable tragedy on Monday afternoon at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
A shooting during a high school hockey tournament left two people dead and three others critically injured in what authorities are calling a “targeted” act stemming from a family dispute. The gunman later took his own life.
The incident sent shockwaves through the New England sports community, with teams across the region expressing grief and solidarity with those affected.
The New England Patriots were among the first to issue a statement, saying they were “heartbroken by the tragic shooting.” The team extended its support to the students, coaches, fans, and everyone impacted by the violence. It was a message of unity in the face of pain - a reminder that sports communities often rally strongest during times of loss.
The Boston Bruins echoed those sentiments, calling the shooting a “senseless act of violence.” Their statement underscored the heartbreak of seeing a place meant to bring people together - a hockey rink - become the site of such devastation. “We are deeply saddened that a place meant for celebrating hockey and bringing people together was touched by this violence,” the team said, offering condolences to all affected.
The Boston Red Sox also weighed in, mourning the lives lost and offering thoughts to the injured and their families. “Our hearts are with the families and loved ones affected by the senseless violence at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena today,” the team said, “and with all who were present at what should have been a joyful moment in youth sport.”
The scene inside the arena was chaotic and terrifying. Video circulating on social media shows players scrambling for safety as gunfire erupted.
Some ducked behind the boards, while others sprinted off the ice. The sound of shots - reportedly around a dozen - rang out as spectators screamed and tried to flee.
Authorities have confirmed that the shooter opened fire on his own family during the game. Two spectators were killed, and three others - including two children - were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
One of the children later died. According to reports, the gunman’s daughter identified him as her father, saying he had mental health issues and had turned the weapon on himself after the shooting.
The horror of the moment was captured in the words of Olin Lawrence, one of the players on the ice during the attack. “I thought it was balloons at first - it was like ‘bop, bop…’ but this kept going - and it was actually gunshots,” he said.
“Me and my teammates ran right to the locker room and we just bunkered up… we tried to stay safe down there. But it was very scary, we were very nervous.”
In the aftermath, the arena - a place meant for competition, camaraderie, and community - became the scene of a tragedy that has left families shattered and a region in mourning.
As the investigation continues and the community begins the difficult process of healing, the outpouring of support from New England’s sports teams serves as a reminder: while games may divide us by team colors, moments like this bring us together in shared humanity.