Michal Krištof

Michal Krištof (born 11 October 1993) is a Slovak professional ice hockey center playing for HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Michal Krištof
Born (1993-10-11) 11 October 1993
Nitra, Slovakia
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 157 lb (71 kg; 11 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
Czech team
Former teams		 HC Kometa Brno
HK Nitra
Vaasan Sport
Peliitat Heinola
Hokki
Kärpät
National team  Slovakia
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2013–present

Krištof made his SM-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.

Playing career

Early years

About 4 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 years in Finland

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]

Senior career
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Slovakia
Olympic Games
2022 Beijing

The 2013–2014 season was Michal 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 3 goals and made 8 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]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 HK Nitra Slovak-Jr. 36 12 26 38 34 5 2 2 4 0
2011–12 Vaasan Sport Jr. A 42 18 19 37 37 — — — — —
2012–13 Vaasan Sport Jr. A 38 14 32 46 10 3 2 2 4 2
2013–14 Vaasan Sport Jr. A 8 0 5 5 2 — — — — —
2013–14 Vaasan Sport Mestis 50 2 29 31 20 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Vaasan Sport Liiga 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Peliitat Heinola Mestis 41 9 17 26 34 — — — — —
2015–16 Hokki Mestis 49 11 29 40 6 17 0 13 13 0
2016–17 HK Nitra Slovak 56 15 27 42 22 13 2 3 5 4
2017–18 HK Nitra Slovak 52 17 40 57 14 8 2 6 8 2
2018–19 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 58 9 30 39 10 17 3 4 7 0
2019–20 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 50 9 11 20 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Oulun Kärpät Liiga 57 10 14 24 8 5 0 2 2 0
Liiga totals 167 28 55 83 20 22 3 6 9 0
Slovak totals 108 32 67 99 36 21 4 9 13 6

International
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Slovakia OG 11th 4 0 0 0 0
2018 Slovakia WC 9th 7 3 3 6 2
2019 Slovakia WC 9th 7 1 2 3 0
2021 Slovakia WC 8th 8 1 1 2 0
Senior totals 26 5 6 11 2

Awards and honours
Honours Year
Jr. A SM-Liiga All-Star Team 2012–13 [7]

References
  1. 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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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