His decision to arbitrarily leave the KHL caused a storm of resentment in Russia. The injured party complains and refers to ethical agreements despite the competitions.
Photo: ČTK / Deml Ondřej
Michal Krištof in Slovakia’s jersey at the 2018 WC in Copenhagen.
Last week’s departure of Michal Krištof from the club HK Sochi stirred the calm waters in European hockey.
The Slovak hockey player was not satisfied with his position in the team at the club from the Black Sea, he did not like the insufficient playing time, and when he received an offer from the Swiss, he did not hesitate.
Despite the valid contract with the Russian club, he left Sochi and headed for Switzerland, where he strengthened the SCL Tigers team playing home games in Langnau.
The Russian’s behavior caught the clever center off guard. They claim that they have no outstanding financial obligations to the player, that they have always treated him fairly and therefore do not understand how he allowed himself to leave the club despite his still valid contract.
The KHL management also complained to the leadership of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), but was unsuccessful. The reason is simple – the KHL no longer belongs to the structures of the Russian Hockey Federation and therefore does not have a reciprocal agreement with the IIHF.
To put it simply – contracts within the KHL are valid only in Russia and other hockey European countries are just worthless paper.
When the Russian side failed to appeal to the IIHF, they tried in Switzerland. The portal Le Matin reported that the head of the highest Swiss competition, the National League, Denis Vaucher, received an “angry” email from KHL president Alexei Morozov.
Photo: ČTK / Černý Vít
Kristof Brno Before working in Russia, Michal Krištof played for Kometa Brno.
The former elite striker, who shone in the NHL in the Pittsburgh Penguins jersey and was also one of the pillars of the national team (two world championship titles, silver from the Olympics), demands on behalf of the Russian competition that the NLA cancel Kristof’s contract.
Vaucher, as one of the most influential men in Swiss hockey, responded with clear rhetoric.
“And why should I do such a thing? His transfer was approved by the IIHF. For us, the procedure was carried out according to the regulations, and that clears it up for us,” said Vaucher for Le Matin.
The complaining party is advised to contact the umbrella body of hockey in their country.
“If the heads of the KHL are angry, let them contact the leadership of the Russian Hockey Federation. It is a member of the IIHF. For us, the whole matter is closed,” added the president of the NLA.
Kristof has already managed to play two matches for his new club in the highest Swiss competition.
On Friday, he helped the “tigers” to win 4:3 on Ambri-Piotta ice, on Saturday his team lost to Kloten 0:2. Today, Langnau plays at home against SC Bern.
A pupil of Nitra hockey, he has been active in the KHL since the summer of 2022, when he became a player for Vladivostok, and last year he moved to Sochi.
Even before Russia, in addition to his native Nitra, he also played in the Czech Republic and Finland. He represented Slovakia at four World Cups and two Olympic Games, contributing to a bronze medal in Beijing.
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
