A standout performance by Joe Hicketts of the Victoria Royals wasn’t enough to save the Western Hockey League team Tuesday night in Brandon, Manitoba.
An opportunistic Russian junior all-star team defeated the WHL squad, coached by Dave Lowry of the Royals, 3-2 to sweep the two-game set that kicked off the Subway Super Series.
Hicketts, named player of the game for the WHL, was involved in both goals. The mobile Royals rearguard scored from the point on the power play at 3:46 of the third period to pull the WHL to within 2-1. Then Hicketts’ slick between-the-legs pass to Kelowna Rockets sniper Tyson Baillie began the play that resulted in the WHL’s other goal. Baillie got it to Cole Ully of the Kamloops Blazers, whose shot was put in on the rebound by Connor Bleackley of the Red Deer Rebels at 14:46 of the third period to make it 3-2.
It was an answer goal as Pavel Kraskovsky had scored the eventual winner for Russia less than a minute earlier. It was Kraskovsky’s second goal on a three-point night. It was enough as the WHL couldn’t find the equalizer despite outshooting the Russians 36-18.
“I had personal success … but at the end of the day, everybody wants to win,” said Hicketts. “So it was disappointing.”
But not at an individual level, as Hicketts greatly enhanced his chances of getting invited to the Canadian selection camp for the 2015 world junior championship beginning next month in Montreal and Toronto. Lowry will be an assistant coach for the Canadian team.
Overlooked in the 2014 NHL draft, Hicketts wasn’t even a blip on the radar for Canada at the beginning of this season, before a strong pro training camp earned him an entry-level NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
“I thought I played well. Having Dave [Lowry] coaching helps. ” said Hicketts.
“The losses were tough. But this series gave me an opportunity to show my skills. I hope it helps me [get an invitation to the Canadian selection camp].”
For the second straight night — following the Russians’ 3-2 shootout victory in the 11th round Monday in Saskatoon — the WHL held a decided advantage in play flow while the Russians found a way to win.
“It’s the same story [as the night before in Saskatoon]. We were in control,” said Lowry, by phone from Brandon.
The story of the set was how the Russian team — which includes Montreal Canadiens first-round draft pick Nikita Scherbak of the WHL’s Everett Silvertips — was able to absorb the WHL pressure and win both games with a sly but lethal counter attack.
“That’s what they are good at,” said Lowry.
The key on defence was that the Russians quickly cleared away all those Canadian shots.
“They didn’t give us a lot of second and third looks,” said Lowry.
Russian goaltender and KHL pro Denis Kostin was outstanding in the crease. Tristan Jarry of the Edmonton Oil Kings finished with only 15 saves for the WHL.
The 2014 Subway Series continues with the Russians taking on the Ontario Hockey League all-stars Thursday in Peterborough and Monday in Kingston and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League all-stars next Tuesday in Bathurst, N.B., and Nov. 20 in Rimouski, Que.
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