The objective was clearly stated from the moment new Denver goaltending coach Ryan Massa met and began working with Magnus Chrona at the end of the summer of 2021.

“One of the first things I asked Magnus was, ‘What do you want accomplish this year?’ The first words out of his mouth were, ‘I want to take my team to the Frozen Four, and I want to compete for a National Championship’,” Massa said. “Here we are days away from realizing that goal. Magnus had a very clear mind on what he wanted to accomplish.”

The Pioneers did indeed earn a berth at the Frozen Four, which begins Thursday afternoon with a game against Michigan (3 p.m., ESPN2), and their junior netminder is one of many reasons why.

Chrona and the Pioneers have bounced back impressively from a forgettable, sub-.500 2020-21 season to make a run for DU’s ninth national title.

MORE FROZEN FOUR

Inside the DU-Michigan matchup

Hot goalies have sparked past DU Frozen Four runs

Chrona has been stellar in playoffs

Chrona has been particularly sharp in the postseason, allowing just eight goals in five games. He was outstanding at the Loveland Regional, allowing just two goals to UMass-Lowell and only one against Minnesota Duluth.

At one point in the 3-2 win against Lowell the goaltender had to make no fewer than five saves during one penalty kill sequence, Massa said.

“Our season was on the line with those saves,” Massa said. “Lowell brought it hard, they gave us a really strong battle. Some of those pucks find their way in the back of the net and that’s the difference between going to Boston and our season being done. Magnus fought hard to make those saves.”

Added captain Cole Guttman, “Especially on the penalty kill when he’s making those saves it’s huge. That was a game-changing moment for us.”

Keep calm and goalie on

Magnus Chrona

Chrona has projected a calm demeanor since he arrived at DU in 2019. He got about three-quarters of the 36 starts in 2019-20 because of a combination of his play (16-6-4, .920 save percentage and a 2.15 goals-against average) and injuries to junior Devin Cooley.

Had Covid not shut the hockey world down that March, it’s quite possible this would be Chrona’s second lengthy postseason run. He and the Pioneers were playing well during that closing stretch of the regular season.

Last season was more of a struggle for Chrona (7-11-0, .907, 2.47) and the team (10-13-1). But both rebounded convincingly this season.

“It’s probably an increased level of urgency, attention to detail,” Denver coach David Carle said. “The dips aren’t there quite as much. He’s been able to maintain his high level on a more consistent basis, which has allowed him to have more success. A lot of that’s between the ears, daily practice habits have set him up.

“He’s a calming presence when he’s at his best.”

Chrona and Massa have spent plenty of time working out the nuances of Chrona’s game from approaches ranging from movements to emotions. Massa did his homework on Chrona, and he liked what he saw on video.

“The most obvious thing is his size and ability in the net to take away a lot of options for shooters,” Massa said of his 6-foot-5 pupil. “If I could connect with Magnus, and improve his economy of movement a little bit, simplify his positioning and use that size to his absolute advantage, I knew we would have success together.”

The goalie connection

The connection was made easier by virtue of Massa brought experience with the very thing Chrona craved. In 2015 Massa helped Omaha reach the Frozen Four – allowing just one goal in two regional games. His goalie coach then was Chrona’s last season, Corey Wogtech, whose impact, Massa said, cannot be overstated.

“Corey was my mainstay goalie coach as a player all the way through professional hockey, and he did a great job molding Magnus into what I got to work with this year,” Massa said. “One of the things we took a bit further was the mental mindset and the approach to every day.

“I wanted Magnus to compete hard in practice and drills, particularly ones that aren’t goalie friendly, and be able to make saves. If he can make saves in those situations, he’s going to be able to make them during our games. We’re not going to give up 3-on-0s five or six times a game.”

Chrona said the entire approach has helped him on his way to his 26-6-1 record and .909 and 2.16 numbers.

“I would say everything (has improved),” he said. “I have adapted it more to where I can play more comfortable and calm. It’s made a huge difference. I try to work more on the mental side of things.”

Asked more specifically what those things are, Chrona elaborated further: “I’ve put more mind to it this year, staying calm and breathing more.”

An action as simple as breathing has been the key?

“We worked a lot on deep breathing when he gets flustered, rattled or anxious,” Massa said. “We started with just learning how to properly breath, fill your body with oxygen, relax those muscles, and above all really believe in yourself that you can rise to those challenges and have success.”

From belief to results

That belief is apparent to Chrona’s teammates.

“The biggest thing is when he’s playing with confidence he’s really hard to beat, especially with his size,” Guttman said. “There’s not much net. When he’s playing with confidence, the boys are confident, too. He’s one of the best goalies out there when he’s moving well.”

When Chrona’s good, he’s been really good. After posting three shutouts in his first two seasons, he’s got six and counting this year.

“Magnus has gotten a lot better this year,” sophomore forward Carter Savoie said. “We see him getting better every practice.”

Savoie, who has a team-high 22 goals and has caused plenty of goalies sleepless nights during his college, junior and youth hockey careers, said Chrona isn’t prone to emotional outbursts, something that has helped the Pioneers.

“That’s a good trait to have as a goalie, being calm and not letting a bad goal or some little mistake ruin your night,” Savoie said. “It’s rare, but when he speaks up, we know we’ve got to change something and make it right.”

Chrona and his team have made it right … all the way to Boston.

By MagnessMayhem.com founder Chris Bayee

©First Line Editorial 2022