A quiet controversy is simmering within the Blackstone Valley Schools hockey co‑op as the North Smithfield contingent weighs a move to the Burrillville/Ponaganset program for the upcoming 2026‑27 season.
The co‑op, which captured a Division II championship after a harrowing shooting at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena on Feb. 16, has been rebuilding its identity. Players returned to the ice just 18 days after the tragedy, and senior captain Colin Dorgan, who lost three family members that night, scored the decisive goal in double overtime to clinch the title. The team’s run to a quadruple‑overtime victory, sealed by Jaxon Boyes, drew national attention and forged a tight bond among the young athletes.
The human cost behind the numbers
Head coach Chris Librizzi, who has been a constant presence since the shooting, has voiced strong reservations about any restructuring. In two separate emails to North Smithfield Superintendent Michael St. Jean and the School Committee, Librizzi warned that a split would jeopardize the players’ emotional recovery and could leave the co‑op without enough participants to field a program next winter. Though he had planned to retire after the season, he postponed his departure to continue guiding the returning roster, which includes only a handful of seniors.
Parents and students have rallied behind Librizzi. Deborah Gosselin, whose son skates for North Smithfield, penned a letter to the town’s educators urging them to keep the team together under Librizzi’s leadership. The students themselves have repeatedly stated they do not want to transfer to Burrillville and have asked to retain access to the Route 146 rink at least twice a week.
The potential realignment raises broader questions about the future of the co‑op and the sustainability of community‑driven hockey programs in the region. If the North Smithfield players depart, the remaining roster may be too small to sustain competition, threatening the entire program’s existence in the next season. While the Burrillville/Ponaganset partnership could continue independently, the loss of key talent and the emotional toll on the current squad underscore the delicate balance between logistical realignment and the well‑being of young athletes.