A note from the coaching staff:

In loving memory of #19 - Patrick Romano [10/04/1997 - 03/27/2021]

During the early hours of Saturday, March 27th - a part of our heart was taken from us. Our beloved brother, teammate, friend and protector, Patrick Romano passed away. This is far and away the most incredibly difficult obstacle our team has ever been forced to endure. Despite the emotional rollercoaster we've experienced throughout these last 3 weeks, we wanted to take a moment to say thank you and most importantly, to honor Patty.

First and foremost - we wanted to say thank you to each and every member of the Niagara University community for reaching out with their extended thoughts, prayers and condolences for Pat’s family, friends and teammates. So many of his classmates, faculty members and alumni have really rallied around us through this incredibly trying time. It’s all been received very well by both our players and members of our coaching staff.

Second, thank you to all of Patrick's family members and friends, particularly his mother Charlene, for the love and hospitality that they provided while we spent 3 days in Toms River, NJ attending his funeral services. The unwavering and unconditional love provided an outlet for grief that we so desperately needed. Walking off the bus into a sea of #19 supporters was simply unforgettable. 

Patrick Romano will always be remembered as the most incredibly genuine human being to ever step foot in our locker room. Although he was likely the most physically intimidating member of our team, he had the softest heart. There was never an instance where he wasn’t going out of his way to make each and every person he was connected to feel both comfortable and confident.

When we think about Patty, there are 2 things that come to mind. Number 1 - He truly was the most kind-hearted soul that we've ever had the privilege to coach. His larger than life personality in conjunction with his eternal drive to stand up for those without the ability to fight back, both on and off the ice, had earned him the reputation as our protector. His smile was infectious, the dedication he had to his teammates was unmatched and the overall impact he had on the Niagara University community as a whole will certainly never be forgotten.

The second thing that comes to mind is his mother, Charlene. It’s very evident that Patty’s dedication to helping people is a direct representation of who she is and what she taught her son to be. She attended nearly every home game, despite living a mere 7 hours away ... and did so regardless of whether or not Patty was playing or injured. We ask you all to take her heart into consideration when voicing your prayers for Pat’s soul, moving forward. We will be dedicating our entire 2021-2022 season to her in honor of her son, our most beloved team member - Patrick Romano.

Patty, we love you. We miss you. You truly were too good for this world. We'll be wearing that #19 Purple Heart with pride throughout the entirety of next year - both home and away. 

The Niagara University coaching staff plans to retire his uniform on opening night of the 2021-2022 season. The date is currently set for Friday 09/17/2021 @ 7:30 PM against RIT.