Victoria Royals captain Joe Hicketts received some advice from both head coach Dave Lowry and general manager Cam Hope in exit meetings before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League for the remainder of the playoff season.
“They just said they figured I would be going and good luck with everything and go up there and make an impression,” Hicketts said shortly after arriving in Michigan on Sunday where the Griffins are leading the Milwaukee Admirals 2-0 in the best-of-five Central Division semifinals. Game 3 is set for tonight.
“I’m sure it’s the first step for a tryout for next year, so it’s going to be exciting. That’s the goal,” he said of playing in the minors. “As much as I love Victoria, it’s time to move my hockey career to the next level and the minor-pro league is probably best for that.
“I’m going to work hard this summer and give myself a real opportunity to do that. I’ve done a lot in the WHL and with two world juniors. I’ve got the experience and know what it takes to get to that next level. I’m looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
The Detroit Red Wings assigned the Royals’ defenceman — who signed a three-year entry-level contract in September of 2014 — to their farm club on Sunday, along with Evgeny Svechnikov of the Quebec Major Junior League’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Hicketts, 19, will now try and compete with and against players, in some instances, almost twice his age. Longtime NHLer Daniel Cleary is on the Griffins’ roster.
“I get to experience the next level of hockey. I’m not sure if I’ll get in the lineup or not, but I’ll get to learn from the older players and see what pro hockey is about again,” he said. “Last year, I came in wide-eyed and didn’t know how to soak it all in. This year, I know what to expect a little more and I can try and make the most of it.”
Hicketts was called up last year, but didn’t play for Grand Rapids, instead travelling and practising daily as an AHLer.
“It’s a great learning experience with guys who have played a couple hundred NHL games and guys who are all over, from 19 to the captain, who is 38 or 39,” said Hicketts, who had to get over the recent crushing end to the Royals’ season, allowing a goal with 0.2 seconds to tie and then losing in overtime to Kelowna in Game 7.
“I’ve had some time to soak in what happened. That’s hockey, I guess. You need a day or two. To work all season to give ourselves a chance to do what we did. To win 50 games in a season is special, and whenever you do that you want to make your season go as long as possible.
“The abruptness of the ending shocks you and that was the biggest thing for the first two days. It’s shocking to know that it can happen like that,” he said.
The team was then able to say its goodbyes.
“You try and savour those last couple of days with each other, knowing full well that not everyone will be together again. We had a tight enough team to know that we’ll see each other along the line and I look forward to talking to everyone as the years go on.”
Now he welcomes the next step.
“It’s an exciting time to try and get the career going in another direction. The steps I took in the WHL helped me develop and further my career,” he stressed.
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