Ohio State goaltender Sean Romeo dies at 31 after stroke
Teammates recall a player who arrived first to the rink and maintained a strict routine even during his redshirt year.
By Grace Sullivan ·
Sean Romeo, a former goaltender for Ohio State, died on Oct. 24 from complications of a stroke. He was 31 years old. His death has prompted an outpouring of memory from players and coaches who knew him for his relentless work ethic and positive demeanor.
Romeo transferred from the University of Maine to Ohio State after the 2015-16 season. NCAA rules required him to sit out the 2016-17 season, a period he spent in the background of the team. Former teammate Brendon Kearney noted that Romeo treated those months with the same intensity as a full competitive year.
"The thing I will always remember is that entire season, he had no chance of playing and was the first person to the rink every single day," Kearney said.
Head coach Steve Rohlik, who led the team from 2016 to 2019, described the loss as difficult for the group. Speaking on Oct. 28, Rohlik called the week tough for the Buckeye family and said the situation was hard to comprehend.
Rohlik pointed to Romeo's consistent habits as a defining trait. The coach stated that Romeo's preparation and attention to detail did not change from his first day in Columbus until he left the program. "I think that just speaks volumes for what kind of person he is," Rohlik said.
Romeo played in the 2018 Frozen Four as the starting goalkeeper for Ohio State. He also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and set a program record for consecutive shutouts that year. In the classroom, he maintained a high academic standard, receiving the NCAA Elite 90 award for having the highest grade-point average among student-athletes at the 2018 tournament.
Kearney, who played alongside Romeo for three seasons, described the goaltender as someone who always smiled regardless of the situation. He recalled that Romeo would often turn off his phone for 12 or 24 hours before a game to focus, only turning it back on when the weekend ended.
"He was driven to excellence on the ice, off the ice, and if he was doing something, he was doing it the right way and giving it his all," Kearney said. Romeo later played in the East Coast Hockey League after his college career.
Kearney shared a photo he found recently of the two men celebrating a Big Ten Championship berth. The image captured them in the middle of a high five after a junior season victory over Michigan at Nationwide Arena.
A celebration of life for Romeo is scheduled for Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. The service will take place at St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Cary, North Carolina. Rohlik said the team is trying to stick together and support Romeo's family and friends during this time.
