USAhockey.com:
October 5, 2007
By John Raffel
Special to USAHockey.com
Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) turned 17 years old in June, but he has been playing hockey since he was barely more than two years old. It’s been a 15-year relationship in which Kristo has been a dominating force on the ice regardless of the level he’s at, including his current spot as a forward on the Under-18 United States National Team Development Program.
“My dad (Mark) played hockey and I grew up listening to him talking about hockey,” Kristo said. “He taught me everything. He watches me play and says he was more of a grinder than I am. I think I’m a little more of a skater than he was.”
“I put him on skates when he was just a little more than 2 years old,” said Mark Kristo, who played at Bemidji State University in the 1970s. “I pretty much expected him to follow through, considering I also had a hockey background.
“I also had played hockey. I’ve been coaching going back to 1984. I signed as a free agent with the old California Golden Seals team in the NHL.”
The elder Kristo, who has also been an assistant coach on the college level, has taken an active interest in his son’s progression with the sport.
“Looking back over the years, we’ve always had a net up,” Mark said. “And he’s always been shooting pucks. When we moved to Minnesota, he was in the seventh grade and he lived on the outdoor rinks all the time.”
“My shooting is among my best attributes,” Danny said. “Probably my vision is also a strength. I want to get better at being tougher and getting better in the weight room.”
“Danny has always had a lot of speed on the ice,” Mark said. “When he started playing in youth hockey, we were living in Indianapolis. When we got him into the Triple A level, I could see where his skill level was. He’s always had a real drive and passion for the game. He never can get enough of it. He’s extremely competitive when it comes to playing to win.”
It’s still early in the National Team Development Program (NTDP) season, but Danny likes what he’s seeing so far from the Under-18 team that has won four of its first six games. His ultimate goal for the season is to help his team win the world championship in April.
“We’ve been playing well,” he said. “It’s just that time of year when you’re seeing how things go together. September is the beginning of the year here. You’re working on playing your best by the end of the year.
“Right now, just getting experience and going to the world championships is what it’s all about. Wins and losses aren’t as important as how you’re playing. You can lose a game and still be playing better than your last game. That’s what matters.”
Kristo has committed to playing at North Dakota next season.
“He still needs more work on his game,” Mark said. “He’s more physical now that he was. He still has a lack of girth on his body. It will be interesting to see how things develop for him. I’m happy I’ll be able to see more games on the internet. I plan on being at about 16 to 18 of his games and see the others on the internet.”