A California surfer and roller hockey player before he tried ice hockey, Kevin Kraus fast-tracked his career in just six years.
As a young teen, he was playing defence for the Western Hockey League Kamloops Blazers, and later the Tri-City Americans. Today, at 20, he’s the captain and marquee defenceman with the defending Royal Bank Cup champion Vernon Vipers.
He manned the phones in the Viper office over the summer, pretty much coached his team in the Blue & White game, and based on his experience and devotion to the sport, was a near unanimous choice by his teammates as Snakes’ captain.
Viper head coach/GM Mark Ferner, a captain a few times in his long pro career, believes Kraus is a worthy replacement for graduating Chris Crowell.
“As a player, you worry about yourself,” said Ferner. “As a coach, and probably as a captain as well, you’ve gotta worry about 23 guys, making sure they’re ready. Some guys can wear it, some guys can’t. Even though it’s just a letter, there’s some extra onus put on that, making sure the group is heading in the right direction. We feel Kevin is mature enough to handle that. It could have been one of a lot of players.”
Kraus grew up in Garden Grove, Calif. loving the Mighty Ducks, causing friction in a home where everybody else backed the Kings. His older brother Tim played four years in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants and Regina Pats before earning 15 goals and 48 points with the ECHL Ontario Reign last year. Kevin was raised by his mom and dad, and later a step-dad, all of whom have supported his career.
A big fan of Washington Capitals’ puck-moving d-man Mike Green, Kraus is confident, somewhat cocky, fearless and plays with a swagger. His assistant captains are Braden Pimm and twins Connor and Kellen Jones.
“The thing is you pretty much have to hold all 23 guys accountable, make sure everyone’s working, no one’s hiding behind someone,” said Kraus. “We’ve got a pretty vocal room. All the vets are pretty vocal which is nice and makes my job easier.”
He said Ferner and assistant Jason Williamson told him to avoid letting the `C’ become a burden, to play his game and be the same person. As for his biggest strength as the captain, Kraus said: “That I can call anyone out. I can still have friends on the team and still be able to call guys out and yell at `em a bit. I think that helps a lot.”
Ferner says Kraus – believed to be the first American-born captain in Vernon franchise history – has the moxy to fill the role.
“We’ve had great leaders here in the past and that stuff has to be filtered down. The culture’s not going to change here. Now, it’s just a matter of this group making sure we’re staying on the right path and doing the right things.”
Kraus, who was a catcher and first baseman in his youth baseball days, has felt welcome in the Vipers’ den since leaving major junior. He doesn’t regret signing with Vernon.
“I could have went back (WHL), but this is my home now. I love the whole atmosphere of our room and our coaches and everything. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Kraus, who is known for his shot-blocking, hip checking and offensive skills, has learned plenty of tricks from Ferner, a former d-man. He is high on the Vipers’ blueline brigade.
“We don’t have the size or the experience we had last year, but we certainly have the skill. Once the guys get gelling with their partners, it’ll be even better. It’s going to be tough for the guys that are sitting out to get into (games) as well, so there’s going to be a lot of battling in practice which is good to have for our team.”
* Slideshow photo courtesy Lisa VanderVelde/Vernon Morning Star
