Chrona Talks Friendship With Alnefelt, Why There Are Pliers on His Mask

Why are there pliers on the back of Magnus Chrona’s mask?

Going through artist David Gunnarsson, whose company DaveArt has also made the masks for many NHL goalies plus teammates Kaapo Kahkonen, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Georgi Romanov, Chrona has been sporting his new mask since the San Jose Sharks’ development prospect scrimmage.

“I wanted a clean look,” Chrona shared with San Jose Hockey Now, before he got sent down to the San Jose Barracuda earlier this week. “With the [little] sharks, the number, but also it kind of transforms all over the helmet so everything is connected in one way.”

For #MaskMonday, here is an up close view of goaltender Magnus Chrona's mask at the conclusion of the #SJSharks Prospects Scrimmage at Tech CU Arena on July 6, 2023.

📸 Sharks Twitter pic.twitter.com/Z4JxyYwx1X

— San Jose Sharks History (@sjsharkshistory) July 25, 2023

“Everything melts in together,” he elaborated. “It’s the whole ocean. The waves and then it comes into the deeper ocean where the sharks are. Then you can see on the finishing touches, there’s the Sharks logo.”

Okay, but why are there pliers?

“The only personal touches I had was the backplate, where I only have two things,” Chrona explained. “The Denver logo from the National Championship and then pliers from just memories back home.”

The University of Denver logo makes sense, as Chrona was the team’s starter for four seasons including 2021-22 where his .911 save-percentage and 28-8-1 helped the Pioneers secure the National Championship.

But about the pliers…

According to Chrona, it’s an inside joke with fellow Swedish goalie and Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick Hugo Alnefelt. Chrona was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 Draft by the Lightning, Alnefelt in the third round of the 2019 Draft.

“We live 5-10 minutes away from each other,” Chrona said. “Skated together all summer. We hang out a lot and go fishing.”

Alnefelt has a similar touch to his mask.

“DaveArt got the same memo to get the same pliers,” Chrona laughed.