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Michal Krištof

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Michal Krištof
Krištof in 2022
Born (1993-10-11) 11 October 1993 (age 31)
Nitra, Slovakia
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 157 lb (71 kg; 11 st 3 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NL team
Former teams		 SCL Tigers
HK Nitra
Vaasan Sport
HK Nitra
Kärpät
HC Kometa Brno
Admiral Vladivostok
HC Sochi
National team  Slovakia
Playing career 2013–present

Michal Krištof (born October 11, 1993) is a Slovak professional ice hockey center playing for the SCL Tigers in Switzerland's National League (NL).

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

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Early years

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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

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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

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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]

Early in the 2024-25 season, Krištof became dissatisfied with his ice time and role on the Sochi team. On 18 October 2024, it was reported that Krištof had signed a contract to play in Switzerland's National League for the SCL Tigers. However, Sochi claimed that he had not been released from his KHL contract. As the KHL was no longer affiliated with the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, the IIHF refused to intervene on Sochi's behalf and the transfer to Switzerland was approved. Sochi threatened legal action.[9]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 HK Ardo Nitra SVK U18 13 4 7 11 2 — — — — —
2009–10 HC K´CERO Nitra SVK U18 32 17 29 46 28 — — — — —
2010–11 HK Nitra SVK U18 7 8 9 17 0 2 2 2 4 0
2010–11 HK Nitra SVK U20 36 12 26 38 34 5 2 2 4 0
2011–12 Sport Jr. A 42 18 19 37 37 — — — — —
2012–13 Sport Jr. A 38 14 32 46 10 3 2 2 4 2
2013–14 Sport Jr. A 8 0 5 5 2 — — — — —
2013–14 Sport Mestis 50 2 29 31 20 1 0 0 0 0
2014–15 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 Kärpät Liiga 58 9 30 39 10 17 3 4 7 0
2019–20 Kärpät Liiga 50 9 11 20 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Kärpät Liiga 57 10 14 24 8 5 0 2 2 0
2021–22 HC Kometa Brno ELH 42 8 22 30 10 5 3 0 3 0
2022–23 Admiral Vladivostok KHL 46 7 23 30 12 12 1 3 4 2
2023–24 HC Sochi KHL 54 9 23 32 12 — — — — —
Liiga totals 167 28 55 83 20 22 3 6 9 0
Slovak totals 108 32 67 99 36 21 4 9 13 6
Medal record
Representing  Slovakia
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Beijing

International

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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
2022 Slovakia OG 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 1 0 1 0
2022 Slovakia WC 8th 8 1 5 6 0
Senior totals 41 7 11 18 2

Awards and honours

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Honours Year
Jr. A SM-Liiga All-Star Team 2012–13 [10]

Criticism

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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.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ "KHL Team Angry Over Slovak Player's Departure; Threatens Legal Action". The Hockey News. October 18, 2024. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
  10. ^ "Elite Prospects". Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  11. ^ "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.
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