Joe Hicketts named to Team Canada U-18 Team

ROYALS’ JOE HICKETTS EARNS SPOT ON TEAM CANADA

Victoria defenceman to play for Team Canada’s Under-18 team at 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 29, 2013

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that defenceman Joe Hicketts has been named to Team Canada’s Under-18 team by Hockey Canada for the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

The announcement of the 22-man roster was made by Hockey Canada today after the completion of Team Canada’s Under-18 selection camp in Toronto, ON. Hicketts was one of 42 players born in 1996 who competed in the selection camp. The 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament will take place between August 5-10 in Piestany, Slovakia and Breclav, Czech Republic.

Most recently, Hicketts suited up for Team Canada last April in Sochi, Russia when he took part in two exhibition games at the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championships as an underage player. Hicketts, a 5-8 rearguard, completed his rookie season with the Royals last year and posted 24 points (6g-18a) over 67 games played. Named the club’s 2012-13 Rookie of the Year, Hicketts also notched one assist in six games during the 2013 WHL Playoffs.

Drafted 12^th overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, Hicketts is no stranger to Hockey Canada. The Kamloops, BC native was named captain of Team Pacific for the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this past season where he registered six points (1g-5a) in five games of competition. The rookie blueliner was also named as the captain of Team Canada for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games last year where he collected five points (0g-5a) en route to a bronze medal.

We are Royal Blue, are you? 2013-14 season ticket packages starting from $414 are on sale now! To guarantee yourself the best seats at the best prices call 250-220-7889, visit www.victoriaroyals.com, or head down to the Victoria Royals Ticketing office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

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For further information contact:

Corey St. Laurent

Manager of Communications and Hockey Operations Coordinator

Victoria Royals Hockey Club

250-220-2613

corey.st.laurent@victoriaroyals.com

HOCKEY CANADA / WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / MONDAY, JULY 29^TH,  2013

SEVEN WHL PLAYERS NAMED TO TEAM CANADA U-18 TEAM

CALGARY, Alta. –  Hockey Canada today announced the 22-man roster for Canada’s National Under-18 Team that will compete in the 2013 Memorial for Ivan Hlinka tournament in August.

Seven of the 22 players named to the roster are from the Western Hockey League, including defencemen Joe Hicketts (Victoria Royals), Haydn Fleury (Red Deer Rebels) and Ryan Pilon (Lethbridge Hurricanes), and forwards Jayce Hawryluk (Brandon Wheat Kings), Rourke Chartier (Kelowna Rockets), Brayden Point (Moose Jaw Warriors) and Jake Virtanen (Calgary Hitmen).

The 2013 Canadian Under-18 roster features two goaltenders, seven defencemen and 13 forwards.  All 22 players named to the Under-18 roster play in the Canadian Hockey League.

Hicketts, a product of Kamloops, B.C., was Victoria’s first-round pick, 12th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, and put up six goals and 24 points in 67 games as a 16-year-old rookie in 2012-13

Fleury, who hails from Carlyle, SK, was selected by Red Deer in the second round, 43rd overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  He managed four goals and 19 points with a +4 rating in 66 games for the Rebels last season.

Pilon was the 3rd overall pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  The Duck Lake, SK, native scored five goals and 28 points in 57 games for the Hurricanes in 2012-13.

Hawryluk, from Roblin, MB, was chosen by the Wheat Kings in the second round, 32nd overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  The 5’9”, 186-lb forward notched 18 goals and 43 points as a 16-year-old last season, finishing third on the Wheat Kings in scoring.

Chartier, a product of Saskatoon, SK, was Kelowna’s first-round pick, 15th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  The 2012-13 Western Conference nominee for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year scored 13 goals and 30 points with a +17 rating during his 16-year-old rookie campaign.

Point, a Calgary, AB, native, was selected 14th overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2011.  He led all 16-year-old WHL rookies in scoring last season with 24 goals and 57 points.

Virtanen, an Abbotsford, B.C., resident, was selected by the Calgary Hitmen with the 1st overall pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  The 6’0”, 199-lb forward put up an impressive 16 goals and 34 points with a +25 rating in his first WHL campaign in 2012-13.

Canada’s Under-18 team will be gunning for its sixth consecutive Gold medal at the Memorial for Ivan Hlinka tournament.  The 2013 Memorial for Ivan Hlinka tournament begins on August 5th in Breclav, CZE, and Piestany, SVK.

CLICK HERE FOR CANADA’S NATIONAL MEN’S SUMMER UNDER-18 TEAM ROSTER

 

Hicketts makes Central Scouting List

ROYALS’ JOE HICKETTS EARNS NOD ON NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING’S FUTURES LIST

Victoria defenceman and two list players identified on Futures North American list.

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals today announced that defenceman Joe Hicketts has been included in National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting’s annual Futures North American list in advance of the 2014 NHL Draft. Protected List players Demico Hannoun and Chris Wilkie each also made the list.

One of only 14 Western Hockey League (WHL) players named to the list, Hicketts will travel to Toronto, ON later this month to take part in Team Canada’s Under-18 Selection Camp. There the Kamloops, BC native will compete for a spot on Team Canada at the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Hicketts completed his rookie campaign in the WHL last season with Victoria when he skated in 67 games and collected 24 points (6g-18a).

NHL Central Scouting’s annual Futures list identifies key players who are eligible for the following year’s NHL Draft. To view NHL Central Scouting’s complete Futures list, please visit http://bit.ly/15gJzAa.

Demico Hannoun and Chris Wilkie each also earned a spot on NHL Central Scouting’s North American Futures list. The two forwards are members of the Royals’ 50-Man Player Protected List. Hannoun is coming off of a British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) title with the Surrey Eagles while Wilkie skated with the United States National Under-17 Team last season. 

We are Royal Blue, are you? 2013-14 season ticket packages starting from $414 are on sale now! To guarantee yourself the best seats at the best prices call 250-220-7889, visit www.victoriaroyals.com, or head down to the Victoria Royals Ticketing Office located at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

5 Royals off to NHL Development Camps

ROYALS’ PLAYERS TO ATTEND NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

Carroll, Hodges, Kanzig, Nelson, and Ben Walker off to NHL camps.

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 8, 2013

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals today announced that forwards Austin Carroll, Steven Hodges, Logan Nelson and Ben Walker as well as defenceman Keegan Kanzig will be attending National Hockey League (NHL) development camps this week.

Carroll will attend the Calgary Flames’ 2013 Development Camp as an invitee. The camp begins on July 10^th and runs through July 15^th at the Winsport Winter Sport Institute in Calgary. The 6-3, 204 lb winger has spent the past two seasons with the Royals. Over 129 regular season games played, Carroll has posted 62 points (23g-39a) to go along with 232 penalty minutes. In eight career games of post-season action with Victoria, the Scottsdale, AZ native has notched three goals and one assist.

Hodges, drafted in 2012 by the Florida Panthers in the third round, 84^th overall, will be attending the Panthers’ 2013 Development Camp. The camp begins today and runs through July 12^th at the JetBlue Practice Facility in Coral Springs, Florida. The Delta, BC native has skated with the franchise for three seasons and has amassed 110 points (54g-56a) and 173 penalty minutes in 195 games. The 6-0, 190 lb centre has also appeared in 13 Western Hockey League (WHL) playoff games during his career. Hodges has collected 10 points (2g-8a) with six minutes in penalties in the post-season.

Kanzig will also be skating in Calgary’s camp after he was selected in the third round, 67^th overall, by the club in the 2013 NHL Draft. The 6-5, 238 lb rearguard has spent two seasons with Victoria for a total of 133 games with nine assists and 225 penalty minutes. Kanzig has also played in 10 post-season games where he has put up one goal and 18 minutes in penalties.

Buffalo Sabres’ 2012 draft choice Logan Nelson will attend the team’s Development Camp between July 10^th-12^th at First Niagara Center in Buffalo. The Rogers, MN native was Buffalo’s fifth round, 133^rd overall, selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-1, 181 lb centre has skated for the Royals in 120 contests over the past two seasons and has put up 105 points (37g-68a) and 111 penalty minutes over that span. In 10 WHL post-season games, Nelson has registered 10 points (2g-8a) and 12 penalty minutes.

Ben Walker, an Edina, MN resident, has been invited to attend the Minnesota Wild’s 2013 Development Camp taking place at the Xcel Energy Center in St.Paul, MN between July 9^th-14^th. Walker, who joined the team in November of 2011, has skated in 105 games for Victoria and has tallied 86 points (27g-59a) as well as 81 penalty minutes. The 5-11, 181 lb winger has collected nine points (4g-5a) and four minutes in penalties in the playoffs with Victoria.

We are Royal Blue, are you? 2013-14 season ticket packages starting from $414 are on sale now! To guarantee yourself the best seats at the best prices call 250-220-7889, visit www.victoriaroyals.com, or head down to the Victoria Royals Ticketing Office located at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

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For further information contact:

Corey St. Laurent

Manager of Communications and Hockey Operations Coordinator

Victoria Royals Hockey Club

250-220-2613

corey.st.laurent@victoriaroyals.com

Joe Hicketts named to Team Canada U-18 Selection Camp

ROYALS’ JOE HICKETTS NAMED TO TEAM CANADA’S UNDER-18 SELECTION CAMP ROSTER

Victoria defenceman to compete for spot on Team Canada at 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament.

For Immediate Release

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that defenceman Joe Hicketts has been named to Team Canada’s Under-18 selection camp roster in advance of the 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament. The selection camp is set to take place between July 25^th-29^th at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto, ON.

Hicketts is one of 42 1996-born players named to the selection camp roster by Hockey Canada. Most recently, Hicketts suited up for Team Canada last April in Sochi, Russia when he took part in two exhibition games at the 2013 IIHF Under-18 World Championships as an underage player.

Hicketts, a 5-8 rearguard, completed his rookie season with the Royals last year and posted 24 points (6g-18a) over 67 games played. Named the club’s 2012-13 Rookie of the Year, Hicketts also notched one assist in six games during the 2013 WHL Playoffs.

Drafted 12^th overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, Hicketts is no stranger to Hockey Canada. The Kamloops, BC native was named captain of Team Pacific for the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this past season where he registered six points (1g-5a) in five games of competition. The rookie blueliner was also named as the captain of Team Canada for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games last year where he collected five points (0g-5a) en route to a bronze medal.

We are Royal Blue, are you? 2013-14 season ticket packages starting from $414 are on sale now! To guarantee yourself the best seats at the best prices call 250-220-7889, visit www.victoriaroyals.com, or head down to the Victoria Royals Ticketing office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

JIRI FRONK taken 31st by Royals at CHL Import Draft

The Victoria Royals used their 31st overall pick at the CHL Import Draft this morning to select 1994-born forward Jiri Fronk, from the Czech Republic.

“…He’s a smart player, likes to go to the net, likes to play an offensive style of game - we think he could play as a top 6 forward in the WHL.”  said Royals GM Cam Hope, who was also excited about the size and skill that the 6-4, 200 lb forward brings.

“He’s a big guy… described by some as a power forward, but with think he’s got more skill than that.”

Fronk also represented the Czech Republic in international competition.

“He’s excited about coming…” said Hope after being asked if Fronk was committed.

With the departure of graduating offensive veterans like Jamie Crooks and Alex Gogolev, the club was looking for a player to provide scoring, while addressing the teams physical game, as demanded by Head Coach Dave Lowry.

“He grew about 4 inches this year…the role that he played on the international stage prior was more of a skill role, and this year because of his size he adjusted his game a little, which I think will actually fit a bit better with us…” said Hope.

As a ’94 born player (19 yrs old), they may have to say farewell again after 1 or 2 years.

“It was a tough consideration, but he was too good to pass up.”

Victoria netminder Patrik Polivka was able to provide insight on Fronk, as the two previously played together in the Czech Republic.

“It’s also helpful that Polivka knows Jiri…We’re anxious to see him in August.”

-Marlon Martens


 



ROYALS SELECT JIRI FRONK IN CHL IMPORT DRAFT
Victoria takes Czech Republic forward 31st overall.

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Victoria, BC –The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that they have selected 1994-born forward Jiri Fronk out of the Czech Republic in this morning’s 2013 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft.

The Royals took the 6-4, 200 lb forward with the 31st overall pick in the annual draft which includes all three leagues (Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League) in the CHL.

“We are excited that we were able to select Jiri this morning,” General Manager Cameron Hope said. “Jiri is a big body that is a good skater, competes and is highly skilled. We are very pleased that Jiri was still available to us and look forward to bringing him to Victoria in August.”

The Chomutov, Czech Republic native spent the 2012-13 season with the KLH Chomutov U20 team and posted 24 points (10g-14a) in 40 games played to go along with 18 minutes in penalties. Fronk also represented the Czech Republic in international competition eight times last year and picked up six goals in eight games for his country.

In 2011-12, Fronk primarily competed for KLH Chomutov’s U18 team and posted 36 points (19g-17a) through 40 games and added 26 penalty minutes. During that season the forward appeared for KLH Chomutov’s U20 team five times and notched one goal and two assists. At the U18 level, Fronk played for the Czech Republic in international competition six times and recorded one goal in those contests.

The 2010-11 season saw Fronk rack up 24 points (15g-9a) and 65 penalty minutes for the KLH Chomutov U18 team. Fronk represented his home country at the U17 level six times in 2010-11 and picked up two goals.

We are Royal Blue, are you? 2013-14 season ticket packages starting from $414 are on sale now! To guarantee yourself the best seats at the best prices call 250-220-7889, visit www.victoriaroyals.com, or head down to the Victoria Royals Ticketing office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.