NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Dru Krebs stops up with the puck outside of his end in the first period of a 5-2 win Feb. 6 over the Regina Pats at Co-op Place.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Dru Krebs has played a lot of WHL games in the Medicine Hat Tigers orange and black.
The 21-year-old defenceman finishes his five-year WHL career with 279 games played, ranking him 19th in franchise history. A number that could have been at least 45 games higher if not for the COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season, which would put him at 324 and tied for the fifth-most games played with James Hamblin and Mike Lay.
It’s a milestone Krebs says he’ll keep close to his heart and remembers what he felt joining the club as a rookie.
“I came here as a 16-year-old, unsure if I was going to make the team or not and unsure about the whole situation,” Krebs said. “I had never been away from home for a very long period of time, especially by myself. Having the first year under my belt of being away from home, I was a little bit homesick, but by this time, I’m sad to leave.
“It’s crazy how over the five years I’ve been here how much I’ve changed, but also how much I’ve enjoyed the city, the team and the organization, they’ve been nothing but amazing to me.”
Krebs finishes his WHL career with 279 games played with 21 goals and 113 points. He played in all 68 games this season, limited to 67 in 2022-23 and 66 in 2021-22, both due to attending NHL camp with the Washington Capitals who drafted him 176th overall in 2021.
The Okotoks product wasn’t signed by the Capitals and attended Florida Panthers development camp last summer. He’s heading into the summer looking for a pro option next season.
“We’ll see what happens in the future, I’m just looking for a shot,” Krebs said.
After playing five seasons, there are a lot of memories that stick in the mind for the defenceman. He says he’ll always remember their Game 68 win in 2022-23 to clinch a playoff spot coming off the 11-win season and the life-long friends he’s made along the way.
“There’s guys I’ll keep in touch with for the rest of my life,” Krebs said.
He’s thankful to his two billet families, Charlotte and Ryan Kessler for his first four seasons and Jamie Rogers this season.
“Both my billets welcomed me into their homes and treated me as family, those were some amazing people outside of hockey who really helped me,” Krebs said.
He credits Tigers coaches Willie Desjardins and Joe Frazer for bringing his game to a new level and his family for supporting him through every game and every shift.
“Willie and Joe, they’ve really helped me as a person and as a player,” Krebs said. “My family coming to all my games, my parents, even though that they have three other kids and two other kids in high level hockey, they find a way to come to all my games.
“I have nothing but appreciation for my parents and of course my siblings, too, they are always there for support systems as well.”
Krebs hopes he is remembered by his teammates for his abilities on the ice and also the type of person he was away from the rink.
“I want them to remember how hard I played and what type of guy I was on the ice but also, even more importantly, the guy I was off the ice,” Krebs said. “A fun time to be around, a couple of laughs, smiles consistent and hardworking and always there for my teammates. I think that’s the biggest thing, I always want to be known as a guy who is there for my teammates no matter what.”
