Michal Krištof

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Michal Krištof
2022-04-29 Deutschland gegen Slowakei (Eishockey-Landerspiel) by Sandro Halank-069.jpg
Krištof in 2022
Born (1993-10-11) 11 October 1993 (age 30)
Nitra, Slovakia
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 157 lb (71 kg; 11 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams
HC Sochi
HK Nitra
Vaasan Sport
HK Nitra
Kärpät
HC Kometa Brno
Admiral Vladivostok
National teamFlag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
Playing career 2013present

Michal Krištof (born October 11, 1993) is a Slovak professional ice hockey center playing for HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Contents

Krištof made his Liiga debut with Vaasan Sport during the 2014–15 season, playing two games for the team. He also played in the Slovak Extraliga for HK Nitra and the Czech Extraliga with HC Kometa Brno.

Playing career

Early years

About four years old, Michal Krištof first stepped on the ice when his parents took him to an ice rink near his home in Nitra in Slovakia. He later started playing and practicing together with his three-year older cousin. Kristof played minor hockey in the local club HK Nitra. [1]

Krištof's childhood idol was Steve Yzerman, "I do not really know why exactly him. I liked his playing style and took example of him". [1] [2]

Junior

As a 17-year-old, Krištof received a phone call from his agent about an opportunity to go to Vaasa, Finland where Sport's junior A team held a ten-day-long tryout camp during the summer. The young Slovak convinced the coaches and was added to the team's roster. During his first season in the junior's SM-liiga (2011–2012), Krištof scored 37 points over 42 games. During the 2012–2013 season, Krištof was among the top three points scorers for a long time but ended up in sixth place after being injured. [3]

Professional

The 2013–14 season was Krištof's first on the senior level, playing for Sport in Mestis. Krištof had a good start to the season, but coach Pasi Räsänen eventually moved him to the junior A team after 37 games. [4]

After Jokerit's decision to move to the KHL for the 2014–2015 season, Sport was added to the SM-liiga. Krištof signed a one-year-long contract with the now SM-liiga team. After starting the season on a loan to Peliitat in Mestis, where he scored three goals and made eight assists in six games, Krištof was called back to Sport. On October 3, 2014, Michal Krištof made his debut in the SM-liiga in a 3–2 away loss against Pelicans, where Krištof played right wing alongside centre Lassi Kokkala and left wing Teemu Henritius. [5] Krištof recorded 11 minutes and 43 seconds of time on the ice, had one shot on goal, a zero plus-minus and zero penalty minutes in his first SM-liiga game. [6]

Krištof spent the 2021–22 season in the Czech Extraliga with HC Kometa Brno, leaving as a free agent at the conclusion of his contract to sign a one-year contract in the KHL with Russian club, Admiral Vladivostok, on July 21, 2022. [7]

On 1 May 2023, Krištof left Admiral as a free agent however continued his tenure in the KHL by agreeing to a two-year contract with HC Sochi. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2008–09 HK Ardo Nitra SVK U181347112
2009–10HC K´CERO NitraSVK U183217294628
2010–11HK NitraSVK U1878917022240
2010–11HK NitraSVK U20361226383452240
2011–12 Sport Jr. A 4218193737
2012–13SportJr. A381432461032242
2013–14SportJr. A80552
2013–14 Sport Mestis 50229312010000
2014–15 Sport Liiga 20002
2014–15 Peliitat Heinola Mestis419172634
2015–16 Hokki Mestis49112940617013130
2016–17 HK Nitra Slovak 5615274222132354
2017–18 HK NitraSlovak521740571482682
2018–19 Kärpät Liiga589303910173470
2019–20 KärpätLiiga50911200
2020–21 KärpätLiiga57101424850220
2021–22 HC Kometa Brno ELH 42822301053030
2022–23 Admiral Vladivostok KHL 467233012121342
2023–24 HC Sochi KHL549233212
Liiga totals16728558320223690
Slovak totals108326799362149136
Medal record
Representing Flag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Beijing

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2018 Slovakia OG 11th40000
2018 Slovakia WC 9th73362
2019 SlovakiaWC9th71230
2021 SlovakiaWC8th81120
2022 SlovakiaOGBronze medal icon.svg71010
2022 SlovakiaWC8th81560
Senior totals41711182

Awards and honours

HonoursYear
Jr. A SM-Liiga All-Star Team2012–13 [9]

Criticism

Krištof is one of very few European players that signed contract with KHL team after start of Russian invasion and genocide in Ukraine in February 2022. As a player of Admiral Vladivostok he takes part in propaganda activities to support Russian army and its aggression in Ukraine, such as wearing army jersey in the match the day before first anniversary of Russian invasion in Ukraine. [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 Hanhikoski, Herkko (March 3, 2014). "Slovakian lahja Vaasalle: Michal Kristof". Jatkoaika (in Finnish). Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  2. "En oikein tiedä, miksi juuri hän. Tykkäsin hänen pelityylistä ja otin hänestä mallia"
  3. "Meri ja Mestis maistuvat slovakille". Pohjalainen (in Finnish). September 10, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  4. Nordman, Mikael (January 9, 2014). "Kristof petad till A-juniorerna". Vasabladet (in Swedish). Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  5. "Kokoonpanot Pelicans-Sport 3.10.2014 Liiga". Liiga (in Finnish). October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  6. "Ottelutilastot Pelicans-Sport 3.10.2014 Liiga". Liiga (in Finnish). October 3, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  7. Admiral Vladivostok (July 21, 2022). "Michal Kristof signs with Admiral" (in Russian). Instagram . Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  8. "Michal Kristof moves to Sochi" (in Russian). HC Sochi. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  9. "Elite Prospects". Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  10. "Michal Krištof put on a military uniform. Other Slovaks play in clubs that supported the Russian army" (in Slovak). sport.sk. February 22, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.