SPORTS

Juli Konroyd and son Stephen Konroyd, 19

Hockey on Ice

Hinsdale family's hockey tradition sustains them during COVID-19

BY SCOTT JONLICH | HINSDALE MAGAZINE

Professional and youth sports programs have come to a halt since the Coronavirus pandemic put the economy and our society in uncertainty. Hinsdale-area resident Stephen Konroyd, son of retired Chicago Blackhawks player Steve Konroyd, is in a holding pattern, with the NHL season having been suspended since March 12. “I feel bad for hockey fans and those college hockey seniors," said Steve Konroyd, who works as a pre- and postgame analyst and color commentator for Blackhawks games. "I miss it, and I hope we can get started up again at some point. We missed the best part of the [NHL] year, because the Blackhawks had about a dozen games to go, and typically that last stretch is kind of like playoff hockey.” Konroyd said the Blackhawks were on the “outside looking in as far as the playoff spot goes.”

“They were playing some good hockey, and made some trades at the trade deadline," he said. "The guys weren’t willing to give up." At the same time, 19-year-old Stephen Konroyd was playing his second year of junior hockey in Victoria, British Columbia, when he got traded to the Boston Jr. Bruins of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). The 5-foot, 11-inch, 175-pound forward plans on returning to Boston in the hopes of earning a scholarship. The youngest of the five Konroyd children, Stephen has dreams of following in his father’s footsteps.

“Unfortunately, I never saw my dad play in the NHL, as I was born in 2000," he said. "But I always wanted to follow in his footsteps and play at a high level of hockey, and that’s what I have been dreaming of my whole life.”

Stephen started at Hinsdale Central, and after his junior year, HockeyTV, which is convenient, considering Canada and its he attended Belmont High School in British Columbia while time zone. They talk to him after every game, and said, “It’s the playing hockey on the west coast of Canada. Junior hockey has next best thing to being there.” been canceled across the country until next year. “It’s great playing hockey up in British Columbia,” said "Unfortunately, our season was canceled right as we were Stephen, whose father hails from Toronto. “Canada is the entering the playoffs, hockey capital of the and that should make us hungry to start the “We missed the best part of the (NHL) world, and it’s nice to be surrounded by season" he said. Konroyd has one more year of junior hockey year because the Blackhawks had about a dozen games to go and typically that last a culture that fully embraces the support and has a passion eligibility. Currently, he takes college courses online. stretch is kind of like playoff hockey.” -Steve Konroyd for it. The beauty of British Columbia, with its mountains The Illinois shelter-inand atmosphere, is place gave the Konroyds unbelievable, and a huge more time together to reflect change for me.” on the past and think about While he misses playing the future. In the meantime, hockey during the Coronavirus Konroyd has found time to threat, Stephen and his family work out, while keeping in close are enjoying family time like contact with his advisor Colby most Americans. Drost of Paragon Sports. His mother Juli, a lifelong “In hockey, they like looking resident of Hinsdale and a 1982 at kids at age 19 and 20, because Hinsdale Central graduate, has the kids are mature and done watched her share of hockey over growing," he said, "and by the the years. time they end their college “It was fun watching my career they will be 24—and that’s husband playing for the kind of an advantage for some Blackhawks," she said. "Our hockey teams to have some older neighbors would join us for players on their team." games, while Stephen would A Hinsdale resident since have his own, private cheering 1988, Konroyd has been doing section from my hometown. I TV for the Blackhawks for the appreciate every moment from past 14 years. He retired in my husband’s playing years, and 1995, before radio broadcasting to now watching my son play.” in 1996 for the Phoenix (now While our nation awaits Arizona) Coyotes. professional and youth sports Reflecting on his NHL career, starting up again, fans and he appreciates the slower pace families like the Konroyds of life now with his wife Juli and his children. Steve Konroyd of the Chicago Blackhawks will continue to reminisce about the championships, and

“[Broadcasting] was nice, perhaps watch game highlights because it was a way of staying for moments of glory and involved with the game," he said. inspiration. "It’s great, because you don’t Fans and amateur athletes have the same pressure as a will borrow from the coach or player. It’s great when inspirational feats of those your team wins, but you don’t legendary athletes and parents take the game home with you. that once played the game, so I know coaches—they live and that we may take some of that breathe with wins and losses. inspiration onto the playing With broadcasters, when the field again. ■ game is over, you come home, park it and enjoy your life.” The Konroyds' enjoyment Stephen now comes from watching Stephen's hockey games live on Konroyd of the Victoria Grizzlies

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