On the second day of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Washington Capitals selected defenseman Dru Krebs in the fifth round (#176th pick overall). Krebs, who was born in Okotoks, Alberta, played the last two seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Krebs, 19, took a break from his third Tigers training camp to make his first trip to MedStar Capitals Iceplex for Capitals development camp September 18-23. He also participated in the Capitals main training camp the following week before he returned to Medicine Hat for the start of the WHL season on September 28.

For Krebs, the time at Capitals camp was a very memorable experience.

“It was the dream come true being able to play against those NHL superstars like, Ovechkin, Oshie and all those guys that I’ve looked up to my entire life,” Krebs told the Medicine Hat News.

Krebs said being around the NHL guys, the presence they bring and their work ethic was a statement that stuck with him. He did talk cars and being in the NHL with some Captials regulars like John Carlson and Anthony Mantha. Krebs is a bit of a car guy, but sourced his brother for his knowledge.

“My brother is a bigger car guy, I learned a few things from him. So I was able to add that into the conversation,” he said.

Krebs was joined at Capitals training camp by Medicine Hat netminder Garin Bjorklund. Bjorklund, a 6’-2”, 180lb goaltender from Grande Priaire, Alberta, was drafted by the Capitals in the sixth round (#179 overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

“Being able to have another guy on your side that you know and you can talk to and share this experience with, can come back and lean on each other for a guidance kind of support,” Krebs said.

“I think that’s huge, you have a teammate, I know Garin quite well and we’re good buddies. It was unbelievable to see him there aspiring to his dream and then me also going for my dream as well.”

Krebs and the Tigers are 2-2 so far in their first four games of the season.

By Jon Sorensen