One heck of a performance to hit the century mark in style.
Okotokian Peyton Krebs potted a hat-trick and six points in the Rocky Mountain Raiders’ home finale 10-1 triumph over Medicine Hat on Saturday to crack the 100-point milestone en route to winning the scoring crown in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
“My goal was definitely 100 or more and today was a good day for me,” said Krebs following his six-point performance on Saturday. “There was something in my mind for sure and I was fortunate to have two good linemates that helped me out a lot through the year and got me here.”
Playing on a line with Chestermere’s Kyle Crnkovic all season and fellow-Okotokian Jaevon Buschlen for the latter half of the campaign has proven to be a tremendous fit.
“It’s good hockey IQ,” he said. “We look for each other and aren’t trying to shoot every time.”
Impressively, Krebs accomplished the feat in just 27 games, missing one-quarter of the season due largely to a hand injury sustained prior to the holiday break.
He added two points in the season finale to finish with 46 goals and 56 assists.
“It’s tough getting injuries especially mid-season like that,” he said. “But if you stay positive and keep a good attitude you’ll be successful.”
Krebs joins an exclusive list of 100-point producers over the past decade featuring the likes of current WHL standouts Tyler Benson, Sam Steel, Giorgio Estephan and Team Canada World Junior captain Brayden Point.
“I’ve coached some pretty high-level players in my six years in the league. I’ve seen some and he is right up there as a player who’s just beyond special,” said Raiders head coach Mickey Kluner. “His vision, his skill level is off the charts and his maturity on and off the ice speaks volumes about him being a top player as well.
“Not all top players have the ability to make their teammates good as well.”
It’s not the first scoring crown for the dynamic offensive force.
Krebs potted 66 goals to lead the South Central Alberta Hockey League in an MVP season with the Peewee AA Oilers in 2013-14.
Krebs’ 66 points placed him fourth in the province in scoring as a rookie Raider last season and a major contributor to the franchise’s first AMBHL championship and silver medal at westerns.
“The experience is definitely a huge factor and I like to spread that among my linemates,” Krebs said. “I’m just trying to focus on winning another championship.”
The Okotoks Junior High School student’s plaudits haven’t gone unnoticed.
He’s pegged as a blue-chip prospect in the upcoming Western Hockey League Bantam Draft with some scouting services ranking him as a potential first or second overall pick.
“These kids are smart. They know what’s on the line,” Kluner said. “In my opinion, he could have been a first-round pick last year as a 13-year-old which is unheard of.
“Being on a championship team, this year he knew what was on the line hosting westerns and he’s so far risen to the occasion.”
Playoffs set
The Rocky Mountain Raiders start their bid for consecutive league championships when their playoffs open this week against the Red Deer Rebels.
The two-versus-three Ram South Division semifinal is a best-of-three starting Feb. 16 at 6:45 p.m. at Pason Centennial Arena. Game 2 is Feb. 19 in Red Deer. If necessary, Game 3 would be Feb. 20 in Okotoks at 1 p.m.
Rocky Mountain, hosts of the Western Bantam AAA Championship in late March, owned a considerable edge in the season series with four wins and a tie in five meetings with Red Deer. The top-seed Lethbridge Hawks and fourth-ranked Airdrie Xtreme lock horns in the other Ram South semifinal.
For full schedule information go to ambhl.ab.ca
