Sean Romeo, Former Ohio State Hockey Star, Dies at 31

Sean Romeo, a standout former goalkeeper for the Ohio State Buckeyes hockey team, has died at the age of 31. His death followed complications from a stroke he suffered a week prior.

Romeo initially experienced a health emergency on October 15. Fatal complications arose by Thursday, October 22, and he died peacefully on Saturday, October 24, according to his mother, Lisa. She shared that his brain swelling worsened, leading to another stroke that affected the opposite side of his brain and caused bleeding into his brainstem.

"The damage was simply too extensive, and despite everything the doctors had done and how hard Sean had fought, his body could no longer overcome it," Lisa Romeo wrote on a support page. "I find comfort in knowing he was not in pain and that he was surrounded by people who loved him more than words can express."

During his time with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Romeo was a significant player. He helped the team reach the 2018 NCAA Frozen Four, an achievement not seen by the program since 1998. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Midwest Regional that year. In 2019, he was part of the Big Ten Championship team and earned the NCAA Elite 90 award for maintaining the highest GPA among Frozen Four student-athletes as he pursued a bachelor's degree in finance.

Romeo transferred to Ohio State after two years at Maine. While playing for the Buckeyes, he set a school record for shutout streak, lasting 204 minutes and 27 seconds in November 2018. He was the first goalie in program history to record shutouts in three consecutive starts. He finished his college career fourth in program history with a 2.22 goals-against average, tied for fourth with a .919 save percentage, and tied for fifth with five career shutouts.

Following his graduation, Romeo played professionally for 30 games in the ECHL before beginning a career in business in Chicago.

In accordance with his wishes, Romeo was an organ donor. His heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys were donated after his death. "Even in death, our boy is a hero, giving others a second chance at life," his mother stated. "My hope is that they will not only receive the gift of life but someday understand just how special the person was who made that gift possible."

Lisa Romeo described the days following his death as "one of the hardest days of my life" as she began to sort through her son's belongings. She expressed gratitude for the support from Romeo's godmother and his circle of friends, who have provided comfort by sharing stories and offering assistance.

"As his mother, I always knew how wonderful my son was," she said. "But hearing it from so many people who knew him in different ways has been one of the greatest comforts during this heartbreaking time."