The Ohio State men’s hockey program and the broader hockey community are mourning the loss of former goaltender Sean Romeo, who died on Saturday, October 24, at the age of 31. Romeo passed away from complications of a stroke he first suffered on October 15. His mother later shared that his condition worsened with increasing brain swelling and a second stroke on the opposite side of his brain, which included bleeding into the brainstem. Doctors determined the damage was too extensive to overcome, and he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
Ohio State announced the news on Monday, expressing the program’s grief and noting that Romeo was an organ donor. He donated his heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, giving others a second chance at life. A celebration of his life is scheduled for 11 a.m. on November 9 at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Cary, North Carolina.
College Career at Maine and Ohio State
Romeo began his college career at the University of Maine before transferring to Ohio State in 2016. He sat out the 2016-17 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules at the time and then played two seasons for the Buckeyes. Across 54 games at Ohio State, he recorded 3,189 minutes, a 30-17-7 record, 118 goals allowed, five shutouts, a .919 save percentage, and a 2.22 goals-against average. Those numbers rank him fourth in program history in career goals-against average and tied for fourth in career save percentage.
The 2017-18 season stood out as a historic one for both Romeo and the program. He earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and became the first Buckeye goaltender named a Mike Richter Award semifinalist. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Midwest Regional as Ohio State advanced to the Frozen Four for the first time since 1998. In 2018-19, he helped the Buckeyes capture the Big Ten championship. Romeo was a seven-time Big Ten Star of the Week, set the school record for longest shutout streak at 204 minutes and 27 seconds, and became the first goalie in program history to record shutouts in three consecutive starts. His 22 wins in 2017-18 tied for the second-most in a single season in Ohio State history.
Off the ice, Romeo excelled academically. He earned the NCAA Elite 90 Award as the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average at the 2018 Frozen Four, was a Senior CLASS Award Top 15 candidate in 2019, a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in spring 2019.
Professional Career and Later Life
After college, Romeo played roughly 30 games in the ECHL across seven teams, including the Cincinnati Cyclones and Indy Fuel, before retiring from professional hockey in 2021 and pursuing a business career in Chicago. Former teammates, the ECHL, and Ohio State have all shared tributes emphasizing his character, work ethic, and impact on those around him.
The loss of Romeo at 31 has prompted widespread condolences from the hockey world. Ohio State’s statement highlighted his contributions on the ice and in the classroom while acknowledging the final gift of his organ donation. Family members have spoken about his peaceful passing and the comfort of knowing he was surrounded by people who loved him. The upcoming celebration of life in North Carolina will give teammates, friends, and family an opportunity to honor his memory.
Romeo’s time in Columbus remains a significant chapter in Ohio State hockey history. His role in the 2018 Frozen Four run, the 2019 Big Ten title, the school-record shutout streak, and his academic achievements established him as one of the program’s most accomplished goaltenders. Those who knew him continue to remember both the player who backstopped the Buckeyes in their biggest moments and the person whose final decision continues to help others.
