Thursday 23 April 2015

HICKETTS: Assigned to AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

ROYALS’ JOE HICKETTS ASSIGNED TO GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
Victoria defender joins the Griffins of the American Hockey League.

For Immediate Release
Thursday, April 23, 2015

Victoria, BC- The Victoria Royals are pleased to announce that Joe Hicketts has been reassigned to the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Grand Rapids Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings for the remainder of the 2014-15 season.

Hicketts was signed to a three-year entry level contract as a free agent by Detroit last September after he attended the Red Wings’ development camp and the 2014 NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, MI.

This season, Hicketts led the Western Conference in scoring for defencemen and finished second in the WHL with 64 points (12g-52a) in 62 games played. The 5-8, 175 lb. blueliner set the Royals’ single season record for most assists with 52 and also recorded the franchise mark for most powerplay assists by a defender in a campaign with 27. At the end of the 2014-15 regular season he became the first Royal and third player in franchise history to be named to a WHL All-Star Team.

In January, Hicketts, along with Royals’ Head Coach Dave Lowry helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2015 World Junior Championships. In seven tournament games with Team Canada, Hicketts recorded three assists to go along with a plus-3 rating and two penalty minutes. Hicketts also skated in two games for Team WHL in this year’s SUBWAY Super Series against Team Russia and registered one goal and one assist.

The native of Kamloops, BC sits second in Royals/Bruins all-time franchise scoring for defencemen with 112 points (24g-88a) in 166 career WHL games.

Season Tickets for the 2015-16 Royals season are on sale now. Take advantage of our exclusive Early Bird offer to new and returning season ticket holders. Sign up before April 30th to receive a $30 dollar gift certificate to the Royals’ team store. To arrange a meeting to pick your seats please call 250-220-7889 or visit the Victoria Royals ticket office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.