Sean Romeo, Ohio State Hockey Star, Dies at 31
Former collegiate and professional goaltender Sean Romeo passed away at 31 years old from complications stemming from a stroke he suffered on October 15, The ECHL, Ohio State University, and the broader hockey community are mourning the loss of the former netminder, whose career spanned the University of Maine, Ohio State, and seven different ECHL franchises before he transitioned into a business career in Chicago.
A Collegiate Career Defined by Record-Breaking Goaltending
After transferring from Maine and sitting out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Romeo established himself as one of the most accomplished goaltenders in Ohio State history. His performance during the 2017-18 campaign secured him Second Team All-Big Ten recognition alongside making him the initial Ohio State representative ever chosen as a Mike Richter Award semifinalist. He also claimed Most Outstanding Player honors at the NCAA Midwest Regional, guiding the Buckeyes to their first NCAA semifinal appearance since 1998.
His dominance continued into the following season. In November 2018, Romeo set a school record with a shutout streak of 204 minutes and 27 seconds, becoming the first goaltender in program history to record shutouts in three consecutive starts. He finished his career ranked fourth all-time in goals-against average at 2.22, tied for fourth in save percentage at .919, and tied for fifth with five career shutouts. His 22-win season in 2018 remains tied for second in a single season in Ohio State history.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Romeo excelled academically. He earned the NCAA Elite 90 Award in 2018 for holding the highest grade-point average among all student-athletes at the Frozen Four. Recognized as a Senior CLASS Award Top 15 candidate in 2019, he additionally achieved status as a three-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Ohio State in the spring of 2019, contributing to both the 2018 Frozen Four squad and the 2019 Big Ten Championship team.
Professional Stints Across Seven ECHL Clubs
Following his collegiate career, Romeo pursued professional hockey. Over a 30-game professional career, he suited up for seven different ECHL clubs, including stints with Cincinnati, Florida, Adirondack, Norfolk, Indy, South Carolina, and Kansas City. After concluding his playing days, he moved away from the crease to build a career in business in Chicago.
Keeping Sean Romeo and his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers ❤️ #SeanSavesLifes
Tributes poured in from across the hockey world following the announcement of his death, with both the ECHL and Ohio State releasing statements honoring his memory and expressing condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates.
Organ Donation and Scheduled Memorial Services
In death, Romeo continued to give to others. Because he was registered as an organ donor, his lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys were successfully provided to offer other individuals an additional chance at survival.
A celebration of Romeo’s life is scheduled for November 9 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Cary, North Carolina.
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