A few days ago, Leon Draisaitl was out there scoring goals and breaking records as usual. In a match against the Colorado Avalanche, the Edmonton Oilers center achieved a 40-goal milestone, which no other player had done in the current NHL season. But if you think he was about to take all the credit for himself, then you are wrong. “I’m not here to talk about myself again,” he humbly told reporters, making sure to credit his teammates for the magic on the ice. He realizes that winning in hockey is not an individual effort, but a group effort that requires talent, coordination, and a touch of fortune.

Even though the Oilers couldn’t take down the Avalanche, Draisaitl still made waves, proving once again why he’s one of the best in the game. But this goal-scoring machine didn’t just appear out of nowhere—hockey runs in his blood. As for him, he was born into a family of athletes, so it was expected that he was going to be a great player. Therefore, who is he, and what is the story behind this talented player? Time to dive in!

Leon Draisaitl and his background!

Edmonton Oilers’ team alternate captain, Leon Draisaitl, is the only German player to achieve this particular feat of winning the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Memorial Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award in the same season back in 2020. That is the type of accomplishment that defines a generation. Often referred to as one of the best players in the league, Draisaitl is a powerhouse with a knack for racking up points and making defenders look helpless. But here’s where things get even more interesting—hockey isn’t just in his DNA, it’s practically his birthright.

His father, Peter Draisaitl, was not only a player, but a three-time Olympian for Germany in the Winter Games in Calgary (1988), Albertville (1992), and Nagano (1998). In the present time, he is the head coach of the Krefeld Pinguine based in Germany in the DEL2 league. However, young Leon did not sit at home and wait for the family’s athletic genes to kick in. He decided to take up the billet life, which meant he had to pack up and go overseas to pursue his own aspirations.

Draisaitl heads to a billet life!

Leon Draisaitl’s hockey journey didn’t just start in Germany; however, it was in Prince Albert where he played for the Raiders from 2012 to 2014. Before the Edmonton Oilers scooped him up as the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, he was just an ordinary boy who was struggling to adapt to the billeting with Carole Ring and her family. And if you have an idea about Prince Albert hockey, then Carole is not just any billet mom; she has been a billet mom for more than 30 players, which include Mike Modano and Dean McAmmond.

Martin Ring, her son, summed it up best:

“They were always involved with the hockey club itself and it was part of the community – they wanted to be involved in that perspective.” And let’s just say, Draisaitl was in the perfect place to grow. Right from the onset, Martin felt that there was something different about Leon. “He took responsibility for his game and he wore that on his shoulders,” Martin said of his billet brother and the player who has developed into the force he is now. Even back then, Draisaitl carried himself like a pro—focused, driven, and locked in on the next level. And guess what? He never forgot where he came from.

He is still friends with him and the two chat, and when the Oilers were heading to the Stanley Cup Final, they exchanged messages.

“He’s extremely excited, and at the same time extremely focused knowing there’s another series to go,” Martin said. Earlier in 2024, Martin and his family even spent a night at Leon’s house in Edmonton, reminiscing about those junior hockey days. To Draisaitl, living with Carole was not just a mere shelter; he had found a second home, what could be referred to as another family that played a crucial role in his life.When the Raiders won the WHL championship in 2019, Carole decided that it was time to retire from billeting and thus, brought the era to a close. But let’s be real; she did not leave her mark only in these areas. Players like Leon Draisaitl, who turned those billet days into NHL superstardom, are proof that sometimes, success isn’t just about talent—it’s about the people who believe in you along the way.