It is not every day you see a player from Stockholm, Sweden defending against pucks flying towards his face, a player born to be great. It’s rare in any sport to find a player that, not only, succeeds physically, but mentally.
However, in Magness Arena at the University of Denver, from weekend to weekend, a brick wall that glides like an ice cube on the rink makes an appearance. DU goalie Magnus Chrona, hard work is not just on the ice. A recognized NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from 2019 to 202, and an AHCA All-America Scholar in 2020-2, Chrona, who is a communications major, develops strong academic habits into playtime success.
“I try to plan my weeks as I go, so I have time to prepare for games. I felt in freshman year I learned time management and school just sold itself. I could focus on hockey more than I could in the beginning,” said Chrona.
The balance seems to have benefited Chrona, as he enters the season ranked ninth in school history for career goals-against average (2.29) and 10th in save percentage (.915). However, he states that the save percentage is just a number.
“Save percentage is a number, but I feel like I can always be better,” Chrona said.
When he’s not focused on academics or hockey, he likes to fish, golf and hike. The hobbies are important for Chrona when he wants to think about other things than hockey. However, when it comes to hockey, Chrona, like the rest of his teammates, has a one-track mind.
“I’m looking forward to getting a championship with out team this year,” Chrona said.
Chrona’s goal is set to come true as he was drafted in 2018 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, but recently traded to the San Jose Sharks. His coaching plays a big part in this pursuit. He remembers advice from his coach in Sweden emphasizing resilience in the face of adversity.
“[They told me] believe in yourself even though there are haters. Believe in yourself to prove them wrong,” Chrona recalled.
Chrona, who has been a center point of DU hockey’s defense, registering shutouts against rivals like Colorado College in a Gold Pan sweep, always wants to improve and he owes it to his team for playing well. For his recent success, Chrona credits his biggest strength, his size. He has also improved his speed, which is why he seems to move on the ice so easily. However, no one man is an army, and Chrona has a clear idea of his advantages as a teammate.
“They are always a huge part of my development and I think I’m a huge part of [theirs],” Chrona said. “If they are playing good in front of me it only gives me more motivation to play better at our own end,” he continued.
Chrona, nicknamed “snooze” on the rink by his teammates, admitted that naps are part of his pre-game ritual. On the rink, however, he is wide awake Besides taking naps to be awake and well-rested before games, Chrona’s pregame ritual consists of a light meal beforehand, saving his larger meal to be during the celebration.
Chrona develops into the best player he can be by having the motivation to work on the little details in hockey. Those little things come a long way, and that’s why Chrona is so strong in the rink, and why he keeps progressing.
There have been a few tough times and mental challenges for the team and Chrona during COVID-19. The pandemic was hard for the team, like living in a new world for him and his team. However, they feel they have grown from that period, and Chrona will only push forward.
The Crimson and Gold beat Colorado College and secured the number one seed in the NCHC conference.
