Former Ohio State Buckeyes men’s hockey goaltender Sean Romeo has died at the age of 31 following complications from a stroke, the university announced on Monday. Romeo suffered the initial medical emergency on Oct. 15.
According to an update shared by his mother, Lisa Romeo, on a Caring Bridge page, his condition steadily worsened following the stroke. She revealed that he suffered a second stroke on Oct. 22 on the opposite side of his brain.
Following his passing, Ohio State confirmed that Romeo was an organ donor. His heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys will be donated to provide others with a second chance at life.
The former goaltender’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the hockey community. The ECHL, a developmental league operating within the NHL minor league framework, issued a statement on social media expressing condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates. The Cincinnati Cyclones also shared a public tribute mourning the loss of their former goaltender.
During his collegiate career, Romeo established himself as a premier player. He initially began his college hockey journey at Maine before transferring to Ohio State in 2016. In Columbus, he earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors and was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award. He also secured the title of Most Outstanding Player at the NCAA Midwest Regional, helping propel the Buckeyes to a Frozen Four appearance, marking only the second time the program reached that milestone.
After concluding his collegiate tenure, Romeo played 30 games in the ECHL before transitioning away from professional athletics to pursue a career in business in Chicago.
A celebration of life ceremony for Romeo is scheduled to be held on Nov. 9 in Cary, North Carolina.
