Toms River College Student, Hockey Player, Dies In Niagara Fire

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A college student and ice hockey player from Toms River died early Saturday in a house fire near Niagara University, authorities said.

Patrick Romano, a 2016 graduate of Toms River High School East, was found after a fire broke out in a home in Niagara Falls, university President Rev. James J. Maher confirmed in a letter to university students and staff.

Romano, 23, was a junior in the sport management program, and a member of the university’s club hockey team, Maher said.

"He was a gifted student who served as role model and mentor for his friends and the members of the club hockey team, and he was also instrumental in the production and streaming of NU’s athletic events with ESPN," the letter said.

The Toms River Regional School District issued a statement on Romano's death, saying, "Toms River Regional Schools is extremely saddened to learn of the untimely passing of Patrick Romano, who graduated High School East in 2016. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family and friends."

The fire was reported at 5:15 a.m. Saturday at a home on Wyoming Avenue, WKBW of Buffalo reported. Romano was found after the fire was extinguished, the report said.

Romano was a defenseman at Toms River East, where he recorded 28 goals and 41 assists during his high school career, according to NJ.com.

"He was a great kid who came from a great family," said Bruce Kocenski, who was the ice hockey coach at Toms River East when Romano was a freshman and a sophomore. "It's a tragedy to say the least."

"When a tragedy like this happens, especially in our close hockey community of Ocean County, we all feel the loss," Kocenski said. "Hockey is family no matter at what level and no matter where our sport takes us. Gone too soon!"

Romano was a member of the Niagara University Purple Eagles, who play the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Head coach Tom Mooradian called his impact on the team"simply immeasurable," Rochester First reported.

"There was never an instance where he wasn’t smiling, picking others up, and providing an outlet for those suffering through some of life’s most difficult facets," Mooradian told the news station.
"The world lost one of its most beautiful souls."

Romano also had played junior hockey for the Lewiston-Auburn Nordiques of the North American Hockey League, and former teammates on that team have started a GoFundme campaign to assist Romano's family with funeral expenses.

Posts in a Facebook group for fans of the team called Romano a fan favorite.

"Pat was one of my favorite players of all time," one fan wrote. "I always loved his energy and he always went out of his way to say hi to me and I never saw him without a smile on his face."

"Every time you would see him he would welcome you with open arms to give you a hug, that's the type of person he was," another wrote.

"This news is devastating to our entire university community, and words cannot express the pain that we are feeling, or the emptiness that Patrick’s passing leaves for our students, faculty, staff and administration," said Maher, the Niagara University president.

The university's ministry program held a prayer mass for Romano on Sunday.

If you would like to contribute to the GoFundme campaign to assist Romano's family, information is here.

Note: This has been updated with comment from Bruce Kocenski, who coached at Toms River East while Romano was playing.

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