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Foothills pair strike silver at U17 Hockey Challenge

A pair of Foothills hockey stars were up for the challenge the world’s best presented.
Okotokian and Kootenay Ice forward Peyton Krebs captained Canada Red to a silver medal finish at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge earlier this month.
Okotokian and Kootenay Ice forward Peyton Krebs captained Canada Red to a silver medal finish at the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge earlier this month.

A pair of Foothills hockey stars were up for the challenge the world’s best presented.

Okotokian Peyton Krebs and Okotoks Oilers forward Dylan Holloway helped Canada Red land a silver medal at the meeting of the elite 2001 born skaters around the globe at the Under 17 World Hockey Challenge in Dawson Creek.

“We obviously didn’t get the win, but I took a lot from the tournament,” said Krebs, a rookie forward with the WHL’s Kootenay Ice. “I learned a lot and it was pretty cool playing against the best players in the world. It makes you want to work just as hard when you get back to get better and work on your skills after watching some unreal hockey players that were at the tournament.

“You realize how far you still have to go when you get to those tournaments in terms of preparation and some of the skills you maybe want to work on because maybe that guy does it so well that you want to do it that well. You just want to be add as much as you can to be able to be the most well rounded player possible.”

The high octane Team U.S.A. edged Canada Red 6-4 in the championship game.

The Americans looked to be on easy street in the gold medal game through the opening frame.

Behind the exploits of phenom Jack Hughes and diminutive linemate Cole Caulfield the visitors struck early and often for a 4-0 lead at the first intermission. Ever the resilient squad, the Canucks chipped away with three unanswered in a turnaround middle frame. The States added one more insurance marker before Canada Red struck for a tally in the dying moments to round out the scoring in the gold medal game.

“There was definitely moments where we felt sorry for ourselves,” Krebs said. “Once we got that first goal we realized we can play with these guys, we can go. I think we were the better team for the rest of the first game. Without that first period we can look back and say we would have won it.”

Regardless of the colour of the medal, the first chance to represent Canada for the skaters was something they won’t soon forget.

“That whole atmosphere around the games, playing against competition from all over the world was really cool,” said Holloway, from Bragg Creek. “We all played as a team, no one was going for individual success. Players on the team played specific roles, everyone played their hearts out.

“We really wanted the gold, but we came up short and got silver.”

Krebs finished the tournament with one goal and five assists in six games. He starred with five helpers in the 4-3 quarterfinal triumph over Canada Black while handling the responsibilities of team captain.

“It was a pretty cool, pretty humbling experience to be able to do that,” Krebs added. “I learned a lot with being a leader, some of the challenges you have to overcome that maybe you wouldn’t as just another player. That’s only going to make me stronger going forward. It was a pretty cool experience to not only be playing for Team Canada, but also being the captain.”

Holloway, who skated as an energy forward and penalty killer, scored in Canada’s 7-2 victory over Sweden.

He joined the team late in the build-up as an injury replacement for forward Josh Williams just prior to Canada Red’s first preliminary contest.

“I was so happy and felt so honoured to be a part of that,” Holloway said. “I was so excited when I got the call right after the game in Drumheller. I went straight there it was just a whirlwind situation.”

Needing to play catch-up as the newcomer on the roster, Holloway had a few familiar faces in the dressing room and merged right in immediately.

“He moved in pretty seamlessly,” Krebs said. “Knowing some guys on the team from prior events helped out a lot. He’s a coachable player which allowed him to come in and adjust to our systems that we were running in the camp and onwards onto the team.

“It was cool to watch him do that and be as successful as he was.”

The two forwards have been provincial teammates dating back to the 2014 Alberta Winter Games along with the Alberta Cup and U16 Western Challenge Cup.

Holloway billets in Okotoks with the Krebs family and has been a mentor to Peyton’s younger brother Dru.

“Dylan, I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s an excellent guy,” Krebs said. “Having him at the household gives my little brother a guy to pick on, making sure my brother stays in shape and tuned up. Dylan deserved to be on that team one hundred per cent. He works his bag off every game, he’s a great player for the Okotoks Oilers.

“It was pretty special and humbling experience to have someone you grew up playing with all the way up from Alberta Winter Games, Alberta Cup to Team Alberta to Team Canada. That’s pretty cool I don’t think too many guys have done that before.”


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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