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Undrafted blueliner making mark as rookie

It’s not where you go on draft day, it’s where you go afterwards that counts.
Okotoks’ Dakota Krebs defends the Tri-City Americans goal with Calgary Hitmen Mark Kastelic in the background in Western Hockey League action at the Scotiabank
Okotoks’ Dakota Krebs defends the Tri-City Americans goal with Calgary Hitmen Mark Kastelic in the background in Western Hockey League action at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Nov. 14.

It’s not where you go on draft day, it’s where you go afterwards that counts.

Towering defenceman Dakota Krebs didn’t let going undrafted extinguish his major-junior dreams and just over a year later the Okotokian is logging major minutes on the back-end as a 16-year-old with the Western Hockey League’s Tri-City Americans.

“Sometimes the draft isn’t exactly correct and I just saw it as a learning experience and moved on from it,” said Krebs. “I thought I would have to just work that much harder to get to the next level.

“You just know that you’ve got to prove to everybody that you’re better than everybody else.”

Despite the hype, pomp and circumstance surrounding the draft nearly 20 per cent of the Dub is made up of non-drafted players.

For Krebs, getting back on the major-junior radar arrived in short order.

Shortly into the 2014-15 campaign with the Rockyview M-15 Raiders, the rangy defenceman caught the eye of Tri-City scouts.

After signing on as a prospect of the club, he went on a mission to officially come to terms with the team and make the Americans club at its training camp in August.

“First I wanted to get signed and it’s just steps from there, short-term goals,” Krebs said. “Right off the start I was playing intense, playing my game, simple, smart. Trying to show what I can do.”

Krebs impressed at camp, in pre-season and made the club as one of just four 1999-born defenceman from Alberta to jump into the WHL for the 2015-16 season.

“It’s really cool going to all the rinks and playing against all the best players who are possibly going to the NHL next year,” he said. “It’s a big step, but it’s been really fun so far and a learning experience.

“All the guys can skate phenomenally, it’s just the time and space and thinking really fast.”

He’s got some pretty influential peers showing him the ropes in southeast Washington. Though the Americans are a rookie-laden group with 12 freshman regulars in the lineup there is considerable experience on the back-end led by the likes of 2015 NHL draft picks Brandon Carlo and Parker Wotherspoon.

Stick-to-itiveness has been lesson number one for the precocious blueliner.

“Just staying into it,” he said. “Sometimes you’re not always getting your bounces, but stay into it and play simple.”

Suiting up for 14 of Tri-City’s 20 contests so far, the 6-foot-3 Krebs has been given ample opportunity to acclimatize to junior right out of minor-midget.

The journey started in late September when he made his regular season debut in a road tilt versus in-state rival Spokane.

“That (Spokane) stadium is massive, it was a home-opener,” he said. “When I stepped out on the ice I kind of got the shivers.”

The eldest of three brothers in the hockey-mad Krebs household, Dakota is paving the way for his pair of promising younger siblings.

Middle brother Peyton is the captain of the Rocky Mountain Bantam AAA Raiders and a highly-touted centre in advance of the 2016 WHL draft while younger brother Dru is a steady blueliner for the Okotoks Peewee AA Oilers.

“We probably shot out a few windows in our basement,” he said. “The rivalries between the brothers are still going on. We’re always pushing each other. Dru is a great player too and trying to follow in our footsteps.

“Practicing in summers, me and Peyton really learn from each other. We learn from our weaknesses, what I can do better as a defenceman and what he can do better as a forward.”


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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