Capitals prospects Pierrick Dubé and Antoine Keller both hail from France and are eager to help grow the game.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The hockey scene in France isn't huge, but it has potential. It's evident from the rise of several French stars in the NHL, but there are still ways for the sport to go overseas. That's what makes the game even more special for two Washington Capitals prospects: Pierrick Dubé and Antoine Keller, who both hail from France.

Both French natives have come a long way this season while developing with the Capitals organization, as Dubé has risen to prominence as one of the AHls' top goal-scorers with the Hershey Bears, while Keller is making the most of his rookie season with the QMJHL's Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

And while both are different players with different stories, their roots still sit with France.

Dubé was born in Lyon, France. His father, Roger, was a professional hockey player who met his mother during his lengthy tenure playing in France. Though his parents got divorced while Roger moved, they kept the kids together, leading Dubé to spend the majority of his youth overseas.

For him, it was a challenge to bust out onto the hockey scene in Lyon, with France not having the resources that other nations do that can put players on a fast track to the pros.

"Hockey in France, it's not the best in Europe, we all know. I think it's getting better every year, and there's more and more guys from Canada and other countries in Europe trying to play in France, so that helps the league to get better," Dube said. "I think everything's getting better every day, every year, with the national team, too... we have a good group coming up."

When he was 14, Dubé's parents could see that hockey was a serious path forward for him, and they facilitated a move to Canada to allow him to continue to grow his game. From there, he moved up the ranks, and while he went undrafted, he made enough noise to earn a look with the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate Laval Rocket in 2022-23. That led him to sign his entry-level deal with the Capitals this summer.

"(It was) a good opportunity for me to prove what I'm capable of... they want me first, so I'm just going to go there and not look for anything else. I want to go to an organization that wants me for what I am and not for what I can do," Dubé said.

There are currently two active French NHLers: Texier and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Dubè could become the third, given his play with the Bears this season; he has 24 goals in 50 games, good for second in the league.

Keller had a similar path, but he didn't take the North American path. He was born in Dijon, France, and he discovered his love of the game through his grandfather, who grew up a big fan of the spot. After one visit to the rink with his father, he fell in love with the game and started playing, but found it hard to make strides as a goaltender in his native country.

"I fell in love with it," Keller said.

After spending the first 13 years of his life honing his craft in his home country, he made his way to Switzerland to continue his path forward in Geneva.

"Swiss hockey is way better than French hockey. You can develop very well in Switzerland, and it was a really good goalie coach in Geneva."

Keller ultimately rose through the ranks and was good enough to play U20 Elit hockey, which earned him the attention of NHL scouts and ultimately led him to Washington.

Still, he carries his French pride with him, sporting the French and Swiss flags on the back of his helmet.

"They're both of my countries," he said proudly.

As they continue their paths forward, both Dubé and Keller hope that they can give back to the country that, despite having a lot of progress to make in the sport, jumpstarted their careers and passion.

"Guys like me, guys like (Alexandre) Texier playing in the NHL and a couple of guys in the AHL, when we go to the national team for the world championship, we're just trying to bring the game we're playing here over there so they can learn a bit more," Dubé said.

 I'm really proud to be part of maybe a better French national team," Keller added.

And at the end of the day, there's a lot of hope for the nation and its role in the game of hockey.

"The future is bright for France," Dubé asserted. "But we got to work harder to get like Switzerland or Germany to get better every year,"