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). 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. 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". 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. Senior career. 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. 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. 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