Then-unheralded Victoria Royals defenceman Joe Hicketts, coming in off the radar, would not have made the gold-medallist Canadian team for the 2015 world junior hockey championship without first putting in a solid showing in the preceding WHL-versus-Russia series.
It will be a more secure situation this time around for Hicketts when the WHL plays the Russian junior selects Nov. 9 in Kelowna and Nov. 10 in Kamloops. The WHL team was announced Monday with Hicketts to roam the blue line and Royals coach Dave Lowry to be on the bench as head coach, each reprising their roles from last season.
“This series was really important for me last year in making the Canadian junior team,” said Hicketts.
“This year, I’m excited to meet the new guys on the team. It’s a chance for us [WHLers going to the 2016 world junior championship in Helsinki with Canada] to become closer.”
Lowry, assistant coach for Canada last year, will be head coach at the 2016 world juniors. This gives him a chance to evaluate the players who will potentially play for him in Helsinki. After being on the bench for the WHL games against the Russians, Lowry will travel to scout in person the remaining games for the Russian tour against the Ontario Hockey League all-stars Nov. 12 in Owen Sound and Nov. 16 in Windsor and against the Quebec Major Junior League all-stars Nov. 17 in Rouyn-Noranda and Nov. 19 in Halifax.
Lowry stressed the importance of these six games for those bubble players hoping to make the Canadian roster for the 2016 world junior championship.
“Look at Joe [Hicketts] and Lawson Crouse [of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs] . . . they made the Canadian team last year because of their play in the [2014] series against the Russians,” noted Lowry.
This year’s series against the Russian juniors will have extra meaning for Lowry because the second WHL-Russia game takes place in his hometown of Kamloops.
“Usually, I come in with the Royals and there are only a handful of family and friends cheering for me,” said Hicketts, who is signed by the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL.
That will be the case again Wednesday when the Royals take on the Blazers in Kamloops.
“But for the game against Russia, the whole building will be cheering for the WHL team, and I get to be a part of that in my hometown,” said Hicketts, who had a goal and an assist in two games against the Russians last year.
“Yet, being on the [Blazers] home-team bench and in the home-team dressing room will certainly be different.”
As a returning WHL team veteran, Hicketts will be relied upon by Lowry to be a leader and sounding board for the first timers, all of whom are the stars of their respective club teams. This year’s WHL team features eight first-round NHL draft picks. The biggest thing to learn is that on a league team such as this, and eventually the national team, players may not necessarily be the go-to stars like they are on their club sides.
“Last year, for example, Brayden Point had to be comfortable with being the 13th forward [on the Canadian team at the world juniors],” said Lowry.
“On a league or national team, it’s not all about you scoring goals like it may be on your club team. You may not be getting power-play time like you are used to. The best players on national teams are the ones who can adapt to new roles. You have to be honest up front with the players and have direct communication with them about what their roles will be.”
But while national teams will have an entire tournament to work through matters, the WHL team only has two games against the Russians.
“Your instincts take over,” said the undersized but mobile Hicketts, who has 10 assists in 10 games this season for Victoria.
“Don’t overthink things.”
Lowry will be assisted on the WHL team bench by Don Hay of the Blazers and Kelly McCrimmon of the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Wheat Kings have four players named and the Kelowna Rockets, Seattle Thunderbirds, Moose Jaw Warriors, Everett Silvertips and Red Deer Rebels two each.
A spot is being held open for forward Jake Virtanen, should the Vancouver Canucks drop him from their NHL roster down to the Calgary Hitmen prior to the Russian series.
