Joe Hicketts Explained

Joe Hicketts
Birth Date:May 4, 1996
Birth Place:Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:8
Weight Lb:180
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Los Angeles Kings
Prospect Team:Ontario Reign
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Detroit Red Wings
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2016

Joseph Hicketts (born May 4, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Junior

Hicketts was drafted 12th overall by the Victoria Royals in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft after spending the 2010–11 season with the Kamloops Bantam AAA Jardine Blazers where he scored eighteen goals and 41 assists in 51 games played.[1] Hicketts spent the 2011–12 season at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, British Columbia.

During the 2012–13 season, Hicketts played in 67 of 72 regular season games for the Royals, where he recorded six goals and 18 assists in his first season.

During the 2013–14 season, Hicketts was an assistant captain for the Royals in his second season. Hicketts recorded six goals and 18 assists in 36 regular season games for the Royals, before missing three months after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury in October 2013.[2]

Hicketts was undrafted in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but was invited to attend the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp the following week.[3] He was subsequently named to the Red Wings roster for the 2014 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan in September, after which he was invited to the Red Wings main training camp.[4] [5] On September 24, 2014, one day after the end of training camp, Hicketts was signed as a free agent by the Red Wings to a three-year, $1.9 million entry-level contract.[6] [7] Having not played in any preseason games, Hicketts was assigned to the Victoria Royals on October 2, 2014.[8] Hicketts spent the majority of the 2014–15 season with the Victoria Royals of the WHL, where he ranked second among WHL defensemen in scoring with 12 goals and 52 assists in 62 games. Following an outstanding season with the Royals, Hicketts was named to the 2014–15 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team.[9] On April 23, 2015, Hicketts was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.[10]

The following season, Hicketts again participated in the Red Wings Development Camp, the 2015 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, as well as the Red Wings main training camp.[11] [12] [13] After a few days of training camp, Hicketts was among the first wave of Red Wings cuts when he was assigned to the Victoria Royals on September 21, 2015.[14] During the 2015–16 season, Hicketts recorded eight goals, and 53 assists in 59 games. He finished the season tied for second in the WHL for assists by a defenceman, with 53, and seventh in scoring, with 61 points. Earlier this season, Hicketts set the Royals' all-time franchise record for most career points by a defenceman (173) and powerplay assists (70). Following an outstanding season, Hicketts was named to the 2015–16 WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team, and was named the Western Conference Top Defenceman, and Western Conference Player of the Year. He was also nominated for the WHL's Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, as the league's player of the year.[15] [16] Later in the season, after the Victoria Royals were eliminated from the 2016 WHL playoffs, Hicketts was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) for their 2016 Calder Cup playoffs run.[17]

Professional

Hicketts began his first professional season by once again participating in Detroit Red Wings training camp. On October 8, 2016, Hicketts was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins.[18] On January 21, 2018, Hicketts was recalled by the Red Wings.[19] He made his NHL debut the next night in a game against the New Jersey Devils, logging 15:13 of ice time, along with 4:22 on the penalty kill.[20] On January 23, he was returned to the Griffins.[20] On March 26, 2018, Hicketts was again recalled by the Red Wings.[21] Prior to being recalled he recorded three goals and seven assists in 63 games for the Griffins.[21] Hicketts recorded his first two NHL points by assisting on Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm's goals on March 27, 2018, in a 5–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.[22] On April 4, Hicketts was assigned to the Griffins. He appeared in five games for the Red Wings, posting three assists, a plus-five rating, two penalty minutes, two shots on goal, nine hits and 12 blocked shots.[23] Hicketts began the 2018–19 season with the Red Wings. On October 31, 2018, Hicketts was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. He appeared in eight games for the Red Wings, averaging 17:06 of ice time per game and ranking second among team defensemen with 15 hits.[24] On April 1, 2019, Hicketts was recalled from the Griffins under emergency conditions. Prior to being recalled, he led the team in defensemen scoring with three goals and 24 assists in 61 games.[25] Hicketts appeared in 11 games for the Red Wings during the season. On April 7, he was re-assigned to the Griffins.[26]

On July 17, 2019, the Red Wings re-signed Hicketts to a two-year contract.[27] On January 12, 2021, the Red Wings assigned Hicketts to the Grand Rapids Griffins.[28]

On July 28, 2021, as a free agent, Hicketts signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.[29] He played the entirety of his contract with the Wild assigned to AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild.

As a free agent from the Wild at the conclusion of his contract, Hicketts was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 2, 2023.[30]

International play

Hicketts captained Canada's Winter Youth Olympic team to bronze in 2012, and captained Team Pacific at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Hicketts represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded one goal and three assists in seven games, and won a bronze medal. Hicketts also represented Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where he recorded three assists in seven games, and won a gold medal. Hicketts represented Canada at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he recorded one goal and two assists in five games, and finished in sixth place.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season
Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13Victoria RoyalsWHL67 6 18 24 456 0 1 1 2
2013–14Victoria RoyalsWHL36 6 18 24 129 0 2 2 9
2014–15Victoria RoyalsWHL62 12 52 64 4810 0 5 5 10
2015–16Victoria RoyalsWHL59 8 53 61 446 1 6 7 8
2016–17Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL73 7 27 34 4019 1 7 8 8
2017–18Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL67 3 9 12 325 0 2 2 2
2017–18Detroit Red WingsNHL5 0 3 3 2
2018–19Detroit Red WingsNHL11 0 0 0 0
2018–19Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL64 3 24 27 675 0 1 1 8
2019–20Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL50 2 25 27 18
2019–20Detroit Red WingsNHL6 0 2 2 2
2020–21Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL32 1 17 18 19
2021–22Iowa WildAHL61 12 19 31 35
2022–23Iowa WildAHL72 6 42 48 692 0 1 1 2
2023–24Ontario ReignAHL30 1 19 20 108 1 5 6 4
NHL totals22 0 5 5 4

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2012CanadaYOG6 0 5 5 2
2013Canada PacificU175th5 1 5 6 2
2013CanadaIH185 0 2 2 8
2014CanadaU187 1 3 4 10
2015CanadaWJC7 0 3 3 2
2016CanadaWJC6th5 1 2 3 4
Junior totals35 3 20 23 28

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
Western Conference Second All-Star Team2015[31]
Western Conference First All-Star Team2016[32]
AHL
Calder Cup2017[33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Victoria Royals Finish First Bantam Draft with 10 Selections. Victoria Royals. May 5, 2011. November 1, 2017.
  2. Web site: Joe Hicketts Bio. April 23, 2015. April 23, 2015.
  3. Web site: Staff Writer; Detroit Red Wings. Summer camp schedule, roster announced. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. June 30, 2014. November 1, 2017.
  4. Web site: Caples. Michael. Red Wings announce NHL Prospects Camp tournament roster. MiHockeyNow.com. MiHockey. August 28, 2014. November 1, 2017.
  5. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Detroit releases 2014 training camp roster. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. September 17, 2014. November 1, 2017.
  6. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Detroit agrees to terms with Joe Hicketts. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. September 24, 2014. November 1, 2017.
  7. Web site: Joe Hicketts. CapFriendly.com. November 1, 2017.
  8. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Detroit trims roster to 39. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. October 2, 2014. November 1, 2017.
  9. Web site: Royals' Joe Hicketts Named to Western Conference All-Star Team. Victoria Royals. September 24, 2014. September 24, 2014.
  10. Web site: Hicketts in Town. Grand Rapids Griffins. April 23, 2015. April 23, 2015.
  11. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Red Wings' development camp roster. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. June 29, 2015. November 1, 2017.
  12. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Wings release prospect tourney roster. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. August 28, 2015. November 1, 2017.
  13. Web site: Bartkowiak Jr.. Dave. Red Wings release 2015 training camp roster. ClickOnDetroit.com. WDIV-TV. September 14, 2015. November 1, 2017.
  14. Web site: Caples. Michael. Red Wings announce first 15 roster cuts. MiHockeyNow.com. MiHockey. September 21, 2015. November 1, 2017.
  15. Web site: Royal Headline List of WHL Western Conference Award Winners . . March 23, 2016 . March 23, 2016.
  16. Web site: Wings prospect stars in WHL. . Dana . Wakiji . March 24, 2016 . March 24, 2016.
  17. Web site: Pearson. Jason. Svechnikov, Hicketts go to Grand Rapids. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. April 24, 2016. April 24, 2016.
  18. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Red Wings cut roster to 32. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. October 8, 2016. November 1, 2017.
  19. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Joe Hicketts recalled from Grand Rapids. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. January 21, 2018. January 21, 2018.
  20. Web site: DiFilippo. Alex. Detroit assigns Turgeon and Hicketts to Grand Rapids. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. January 23, 2018. January 23, 2018.
  21. Web site: Red Wings recall Joe Hicketts. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. March 26, 2018. March 26, 2018.
  22. News: Sipple. George. Niklas Kronwall nets 400th career point in Detroit Red Wings' 5-2 win. March 27, 2018. Detroit Free Press. March 27, 2018.
  23. Web site: Kujawa. Kyle. Three assigned to Grand Rapids. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. April 4, 2018. April 4, 2018.
  24. Web site: Red Wings recall Wade Megan; Joe Hicketts assigned to Grand Rapids. Detroit Red Wings. Alex. DiFilippo. October 31, 2018. October 31, 2018.
  25. Web site: Red Wings recall Hicketts. Detroit Red Wings. Kyle. Kujawa. April 1, 2019. April 1, 2019.
  26. Web site: Red Wings assign nine players . NHL.com . Kyle . Kujawa . April 7, 2019 . April 7, 2019.
  27. News: Kujawa. Kyle. Red Wings re-sign Hicketts for two years. NHL.com. Detroit Red Wings. July 17, 2019. July 17, 2019.
  28. Web site: Detroit Assigns 11 to Grand Rapids . griffinshockey.com . January 12, 2021 . January 12, 2021.
  29. Web site: Wild signs defenseman Joe Hicketts to a two-year, two-way contract . . July 28, 2021 . July 28, 2021.
  30. Web site: Kings sign defenseman Joe Hicketts . . July 2, 2023 . July 2, 2023.
  31. Web site: WHL Announces All-Stars & Award Finalists . . March 25, 2015 . March 25, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122833/http://whl.ca/article/whl-announces-all-stars-and-awards-finalists-2015 . April 2, 2015 .
  32. Web site: WHL Announces 2015-16 All-Star Teams . . March 23, 2016 . March 23, 2016.
  33. Web site: Grand Rapids Griffins win Calder Cup at home . . Dana . Wakiji . June 13, 2017 . June 13, 2017.