TIGERS BEHIND THE SCENES: DRU KREBS

Medicine Hat, AB – As the off-season continues for the Medicine Tigers players, coaches & staff. There’s plenty of work to be done and more motivation to improve off of the 2022-23 campaign which leads us to our next Behind the Scenes looks with a player heading into his final season of junior hockey.

Tigers defenceman & Team MVP this past season Dru Krebs comes in as an alternate captain, playing in over 200 WHL Regular Season games and aspirations of leading the Tigers this season to an even higher level of competitiveness reeling off of last year’s return to the playoffs. But the journey has come with ups and downs for the Okotoks, AB native.

Tigers Broadcaster Gino De Paoli sat down with Krebs and he reflects on the season and the work he’s done to get ready for the upcoming grind in 2023-24.

GDP: Dru, after the season ended some players are able to go home for a few days before beginning training for next year, you did not as you were on a plane to Hershey to play with the Bears, what was that experience like after the WHL season and then getting into the off-season later after being in the AHL for a couple weeks?

Krebs: It’s been good, it was a fun time in Hershey, they just won the Calder Cup recently so it was pretty cool to practice with them, I didn’t get into any games but just being around them and soaking in that pro atmosphere was really special and a really good opportunity to learn. After that I took a couple weeks off and then just starting training up again on and off the ice with my brother (Peyton Krebs) and it’s just been a lot of golf and a lot of training.

GDP: I heard you hit a hole-in-one the other day I was told, take me through the shot.

Krebs: It was a little island green, I took out my pitching wedge, but I tried it later and hit it into the water though so I think it was a one-time thing only but I hit the pitching wedge 155-160 yards, hit the hole-in-one one bounce and in on the green.

GDP: What does an off-season look like for Dru Krebs going into your final season of junior and not just golf?

Krebs: Honestly I go out and train quite a few times a week, and I skate 2-3 times a week as well, it’s a lot about consistency. My brother and I went down to Conneticuit, did some training there, we got a our program together and came back home trying to dial in our diet and just our habits consistenly to reach that next level of ourselves, for me the next level is pro hockey.

GDP: So going back to the past season with the Tigers, you guys make the playoffs on the last day of the regular season which hadn’t happened in over three years, get that important playoff experience that was lacking for everyone, when the playoffs ended what was the message from the coaching staff going into the offseason for the team and yourself to get to that next level?

Krebs: I just think it’s more of a stepping stone, we got the taste of everything last year. The way I played at the end of the year is where I wanted to be as a player being able to play in all situations. But coming into this season as a 20 year old you’re supposed to be a more dominate player on the team and carrying load to bring the guys along and also be a leader. So I think those two things combined are really huge for next season.

GDP: Looking at the Tigers for the upcoming season, at least on paper there’s definitely some excitement that is coming after last season, what are some of the goals for the team and yourself next season?

Krebs: It’s only going up from here for us after making the playoffs last year. So that’s the first step, You look where we started and where we ended last year is a huge difference. So starting where we finished last year as one of the best teams in the league and hopefully building off that to be one of the best teams in the league and eventually the best team in the league that’s the dreams and aspirations that we have as a group.

GDP: Anything you’d like to say to Tiger fans as we get closer to a return to WHL hockey in Medicine Hat?

Krebs: I can’t wait to get back to the Hat and be surrounded by all of you, it’s going to be a special year.