02/18/2026
To Our Richmond Retrievers Family,
I want to share something personal with our hockey community.
Earlier this week, my family experienced a devastating tragedy. My cousin’s fiancé and his mother were killed in a shooting at the hockey game at Lynch Arena in Rhode Island. It was an act of family violence that has left us heartbroken and shaken.
What the news doesn’t capture is who he truly was. He was a hockey player himself — someone who loved the game deeply. He had talked about wanting to visit one of our Richmond Retrievers games and had even expressed interest in volunteering with our team. He believed in what we do. Hockey wasn’t just something he played — it was something that connected him to people and community.
In the most terrifying moment imaginable, he told my cousin to run — and she survived because of him, because his father intended to harm her, too. He also tried to protect his mother. His final actions were brave and selfless.
Our family is grieving deeply. My cousin is safe, but understandably in shock and surrounded by loved ones as she begins to process the unimaginable. She’s not just my cousin, she is one of Kazim’s godmothers.
I share this because hockey is family. Rinks are places we consider safe — where our athletes grow, where friendships are built, where we celebrate milestones and community. When violence touches that space, especially when it touches your own family, it feels personal in a profound way.
If I seem quieter or heavier in the coming days, please know why. I’m holding my cousin close while continuing to show up for this team that means so much to me.
If you feel led, I would love for us to honor him in a small way — perhaps a moment of silence at our next practice or placing sticks out in solidarity. He loved this game, and he wanted to be part of our community.
Please hug your people a little tighter. Tell them you love them.
With gratitude for this hockey family,
Randi-Lyn