UND hockey: Kristo returning for junior season

GRAND FORKS — The top line may be gone to graduation, but the UND men’s hockey team will have one of its most dynamic players back next season.

Danny Kristo confirmed on Wednesday night that he would return to school for his junior year rather than sign a professional contract with the Montreal Canadiens, who drafted the Eden Prairie, Minn., product in the second round in 2008.

It marked the third day in a row that a non-senior with potential to sign a pro contract decided to return to UND. All-American goalie Aaron Dell announced he was coming back on Monday and shutdown defenseman Ben Blood said he would be back on Tuesday.

“I thought about it and looked it over and obviously could have done either or,” Kristo said, “but I feel like with Dell coming back, Bloody coming back, that will be huge for us. Knighter (Corban Knight) will be back. He’s one of the most underrated players in the league. I think we will have a strong team next year and we can surprise a lot of people. Personally, there is still a lot I can accomplish.”

After a slow start to his sophomore year, Kristo turned it on down the stretch. He finished with 23 points in the last 16 games — a stretch that was interrupted for six weeks because of severe frostbite that Kristo sustained on his right toes.

Kristo finished with 28 points in 34 games.

“I feel like it was a really good season,” Kristo said. “There were a lot of ups and downs on and off the ice. I grew up a little bit as a person. Everything I went through this year will help in the future and next year for sure.”

Kristo, the 2010 Western Collegiate Hockey Association rookie of the year, figures to play key minutes in all situations for the Sioux next season. He has been a regular on the power play from the start, manning the point. He added penalty kill duties as a sophomore.

“I know I will have to produce almost every night,” Kristo said. “It will be a good challenge.”

UND now is just waiting on word from juniors Jason Gregoire, Brett Hextall and Brad Eidsness. Gregoire, a forward, is a New York Islanders draft pick. Hextall is a Phoenix Coyotes draft pick and Eidsness is a Buffalo Sabres pick.

Tags: sports, hockey, und, sioux, wcha, kristo