Krys Kolanos was born July 27, 1981 in Calgary, Alberta. The 1st round, 19th overall selection of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Kolanos is a graduate of the Alberta Amateur Hockey League and led the Calgary Buffaloes to the 1997-98 Western Canadian title and the AMHL crown.
The Most Sportsmanlike Player at the 1998 Air Canada Cup, Kolanos joined the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Calgary Royals in 1998-99. In his only season with the Royals, Kolanos led his team in scoring, was an AJHL All-Star and was the Rookie of the Year.
After only one season with the Royals, Kolanos went on to attend Boston College for two seasons. In his freshman year with the Screaming Eagles, Kolanos finished with 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 42 games while earning Hockey East All-Rookie Team honours.
Kolanos followed up his strong freshman performance in 1999-2000 with a 50 point season in his sophomore year (25 goals, 25 assists). The Calgary, Alberta native scored the overtime winning goal as BC defeated the defending NCAA champions from North Dakota to capture their first NCAA championship in 52 years. Selected to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, Kolanos also earned All-American Second Team honours, All-New England First Team honours and Hockey East All-Conference Second Team accolades.
The Phoenix Coyotes signed Kolanos following his sophomore year at BC and then went on to make his NHL debut with the team in 2001-02, finishing his rookie campaign with 22 points (11-11-22) in 57 games. Kolanos missed almost the entire 2002-03 season with a concussion and upon his return in 2003-04, split his time between Phoenix and the AHL's Springfield Falcons. During the NHL lockout of 2004-05, Kolanos split his time between Germany and Finland before returning to the Coyotes in 2005-06.
After beginning the 2005-06 season with the Coyotes organization, Kolanos was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers, yet his stay his stay with the club was short lived as he soon after re-acquired by Phoenix. Despite being re-acquired by the Coyotes Kolanos was then off to Carolina and eventually would finish the 2005-06 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On the international stage, Kolanos helped Canada capture Gold at the 2003 World Championships.
Kolanos was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings in the Summer of 2006.
As an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2009, Kolanos signed on with the Philadelphia Flyers.
