From Midland Daily News
By Fred Kelly
Midland High alumni Tommy Kroll and Konnor White know the thrill of making a deep postseason run in high school hockey. Now, they are hoping to experience the same thrill at the collegiate level.
Kroll and White, who helped the Chemics reach the MHSAA Division 1 state semifinals three years ago, are both sophomore members of Northwood University’s surging club hockey team.
And the Timberwolves are on a serious roll.
“We’re just really coming together as a team. We’ve gelled together really nicely, and all the guys like each other,” explained Kroll, a center who has appeared in 15 games and has collected two goals and seven assists.
White agreed.
“It starts with team chemistry. We’ve been a really tightly-knit group since the start of the year,” said White, a right wing who has appeared in 18 games and who has five goals and five assists. “It’s a good group of guys, and we’re getting along together, and our coach (Jorden Cooper) makes sure we’re conditioned and ready to play each game.”
The Timberwolves have indeed been ready to play, entering this week with a sterling 22-2 record while competing in Division 1 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s (ACHA) Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League (GLCHL).
Kroll admitted that he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect this season after Northwood added a plethora of new talent to the roster and then made the jump from Division 3 to Division 1.
“We had probably 13 or 14 new commits over the summer, Junior (hockey) guys who are older, who are 21 or 22 years old and are college freshmen. I knew we had a bunch of good guys coming in, but we didn’t know how well we’d all work together,” Kroll noted. “But, obviously, we’ve been working together very nicely.
“ … I’ve really enjoyed all of the new guys who have joined the team, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know every single one of them,” he added. “It’s been nice, because last year we were just below .500, and this year we’re doing much better.”
White said he is appreciative of every minute he’s on the ice, particularly with his new teammates.
“I’ve just enjoyed being around the guys and being able to play hockey outside of high school. It’s really something I don’t want to take for granted,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity, and I’m enjoying being around these guys.”
With that said, White is particularly happy to be playing alongside a not-so-new teammate in Kroll.
“Our chemistry seems to work out. It’s been great,” he said of continuing to play on the same line as his former Chemics’ teammate. “I’ve played with Tommy for the last few years, and it’s been good. I know where he’s at on the ice, and I know his playing style, and we’re always on the same page.”
Kroll concurred.
“It’s great. I’ve known Konnor since he transferred to Midland High for his sophomore year. We got pretty close during those high school years, and that’s transferred over to college,” Kroll said. “We’ve been playing together on the same line a decent amount, and with me knowing how he plays, I think we play well together.”
Junior forward Bryce Garber leads Northwood offensively, entering the week with 26 goals and 47 points, both of which are tied for first in ACHA Division 1, while NU sophomore goaltender Mason Matthew is also among the nation’s leaders in both save percentage (.952) and goals-against average (1.19).
As Kroll noted, hockey at the collegiate level is a big step up from high school.
“The guys get stronger, bigger, and faster. One big difference from high school is just the physicality of the play,” he said. “There are just much bigger hits out there, and the speed of the game, obviously, gets better when you’re playing against guys who are (in their 20s). Those guys are going to be more manly than guys like Konnor and I, who are both still 19.”
White agreed that collegiate hockey is a challenge, while noting that he tries to contribute in any way he can.
“I view myself as someone who gives 100 percent day in and day out, and I try to do well on my line, try to contribute on the score sheet and also off the score sheet – blocking shots and that kind of stuff,” he said.
Asked if there is a singular thing about this season that he has particularly enjoyed, Kroll said that sweeping rival Saginaw Valley State was a memorable experience.
“We played four games against them over two weekends, and that was just super fun,” said Kroll, whose Timberwolves went 4-0 against the Cardinals and outscored them by a total of 22-2.
“The atmosphere at those games was incredible,” he added. “Our rink (the Midland Civic Arena) was packed with a bunch of Northwood student-athletes … from all over campus who did a really nice job of supporting us.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming GLCHL playoffs, the first-place Timberwolves are hoping to be the top seed, host some playoff games, win the league championship, and earn an automatic bid to the ACHA National Championship, which will culminate with the Frozen Four in St. Louis, Mo., March 13-15.
(Originally published at https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/midland-s-kroll-white-part-nu-hockey-s-resurgence-20061945.php)
