North Dakota forward Danny Kristo is out indefinitely after suffering frostbite on the toes of his right foot Sunday, the school announced Tuesday.
In an update released by the school Thursday, Kristo remains in fair condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn, and maintains full use of all of his extremities and is in the early stages of recovery.
“I’m doing fine (and) I’m planning on recovering as safely and as quickly as possible,” Kristo said in a statement. “I’m just trying to get better day by day. I’m doing better today than I was yesterday and I was doing better yesterday than I was the day before. I’m feeling a lot better than I was the first two days.
”I definitely feel fortunate, I definitely feel lucky. I want to say thanks to the fans and friends and family members who have prayed for me.”
Kristo, a sophomore who is seventh on the Fighting Sioux roster with 22 points, was being treated at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.
“We have been in close contact with Danny’s family,” North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol said in a statement. “My concern is with Danny’s health and his full recovery.”
The school said Kristo suffered frostbite due to exposure to extreme cold while walking near campus Sunday evening. The National Weather Service reported a temperature of minus-11 in Grand Forks, N.D., around that time.
North Dakota, which does not play again until Feb. 11 against Alaska-Anchorage, also lost captain Chay Genoway to a leg injury in last Friday’s game at Colorado College. The defenseman, who is tied for third on the team in scoring, did not play Saturday and no information on when he’ll be able to return has been released.
Kristo was a second-round pick by Montreal (No. 56 overall) in the 2008 NHL entry draft. He was the WCHA’s rookie of the year last season after 15 goals and 36 points in 41 games.
