FILE PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Dru Krebs lines up for a faceoff in the first period of a 6-4 win over the Winnipeg Ice on March 1 at Co-op Place.
Dru Krebs is looking to capitalize on his second tour in the American Hockey League.
The Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Hershey Bears after his WHL season came to a close in a 3-2 Game 4 loss against the Winnipeg Ice on April 5.
Hershey is the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, which drafted Krebs 176th overall in 2021. The 20-year-old attended training camp last September with the Capitals before returning to the Tigers. Krebs also signed an ATO with the Bears at the end of the 2021-22 season, joining the professional club with former Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund, who was signed by the Capitals in the summer and has spent the season with the ECHL’s South Carolina Sting Rays.
The Bears, who are firstin the AHL’s Eastern conference and have long clinched a spot in the postseason, have three more games left in their regular season that wraps up on Saturday before the AHL playoffs get underway.
While he looks to prove himself to the AHL and NHL club, Krebs says having the experience from last year makes it easier to join the pro club for the second time.
“I’m just coming in with a little bit more confidence, you know your surroundings a little bit more,” Krebs said. “Last year was just dipping my toe in the water, get some practices in, kind of feel the pace and see the size difference, all that type of stuff. But this year, I want to come in, be myself and show what I’m capable of.”
The Okotoks product is coming off his best season in the Western Hockey League, putting up eight goals and 41 points in 67 games. He would have registered all 68 games if he didn’t miss opening night while attending Capitals training camp.
Krebs says his biggest takeaway from the Tigers’ regular season was an improved confidence that showed in his play.
“Just going after it every single day and trying to get better every single day, that was the biggest thing,” Krebs said. “As the year went on, I improved because of it and the team improved while I improved. We kind of worked hand in hand and it was really fun to be part of.”
He had a goal and an assist in the Tigers’ first-round loss to Winnipeg and enjoyed getting to face a top-ranked team in the country like the Ice.
“They’re so skilled, and just what we as a team and as an organization aspire to play like,” Krebs said. “Getting the opportunity to play against them and really learning from how they play is huge for the guys going forward and it was a really good opportunity.”
His goals for the offseason are to get stronger and work on intangible parts of his game like picking up the puck in the corner, his speed and other skills while hopefully earning a pro contract. While he has his sights set on playing professional hockey next season, Krebs says he would embrace the role of an overager on the Tigers.
“It would be a massive opportunity to lead this group into a really good direction and be part of something special,” Krebs said. “These guys are coming up, we have some really good, young talent and I’m excited about what the future holds for them.”
