Kristián Kudroč

Kristián Kudroč (born May 21, 1981) is a Slovak former professional ice hockey defenceman.

Playing career
Kudroč was drafted by the New York Islanders as their first-round pick, 28th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He is a large, physical defenceman with an impressive slapshot. He played in North America from 1999 to 2005, and represented SaiPa in the Finnish SM-liiga in the 2005–06 season, where SaiPafanit (the SaiPa fan club) elected Kudroč Player of the Year.

Kudroc suffered a pre-season injury in a Tournament game with Barys Astana prior to the 2014–15 season. Kudroc was ruled out for the duration of the season in order to rehabilitate. As a free agent, Kudroc moved on from Astana and signed a one-year contract with Metallurg Novokuznetsk on June 4, 2015. On August 17, 2015, Kudroc sought a release from his contract with Metallurg for personal reasons. He returned to Czech Republic, signing a contract after a years hiatus with HC Plzeň of the Extraliga on December 14, 2015.

On July 14, 2016, Kudroc agreed to a one-year contract as a free agent to move to Austria, with EBEL club HC TWK Innsbruck. He featured in 8 games with Innsbruck before on November 6, 2016, he moved to the UK to sign for Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL. However, in December 2016, after playing in another 8 games, Kudroc again ceased his playing contract with Nottingham, departing for personal reasons relating to a serious illness within his family in his native Slovakia.