He owns a World Junior Hockey Championship gold medal, but Joe Hicketts admits when he steps on the ice Saturday at the annual Hockey Canada summer development camp in Calgary, it will be new to him.
The Victoria Royals captain has represented the country at several international events, but to be part of the junior evaluation camp at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park is a first for the Kamloops native.
“I didn’t get the opportunity to go to it last year,” said Hicketts, who arrives in Alberta today, with practices set for Saturday and Sunday before the recruits are divided into teams to play Russia and the Czech Republic from Monday to Thursday.
“I’m looking forward to meeting all the new guys and seeing what camp is about. It’s going to be quick with practices and then four games. Hopefully, I can become one of the leaders there, that’s my personal goal.”
He’s handled that responsibility on previous Canadian teams in younger age groups, wearing a ‘C’ or an ‘A’ as captain or an alternate.
Hicketts will also see a friendly face on the ice as Royals head coach Dave Lowry takes his place as head coach of Team Canada for the tournament, which begins at Christmas time in Helsinki, Finland.
Lowry, who also has a gold medal as assistant coach from Canada’s home triumph last January, now leads the way as head coach as 40 players begin the process.
“This is Step 1 of the process, getting them together on the ice and play against some real competition. First impressions — you know this will be the first time that our staff has had any dealings with them. Obviously, we’re looking at and evaluating players, but also recognizing what time of the year it is,” said Lowry.
Character will play just as much importance as on-ice performance.
“Absolutely, any time you’re put on a world stage representing your country, you want to make sure you’re professional in your approach and it’s something we take very seriously,” added Lowry. “For us, it is a short-term tournament, but you want to make sure you’re taking quality players and quality individuals.”
The camp marks the first year that Hockey Canada will also run the summer U-18 and U-17 programs simultaneously with the juniors, and the Royals have several faces playing roles on all three clubs.
Trainer Matt Auerbach joins Lowry and Hicketts with the junior club, therapist Khore Elliott is with the U-18 program (as is Victoria native Bayne Pettinger, who is manager of hockey operations), while Royals prospect Scott Walford and team doctor Michael Conrad are with the U-17s.
Lowry will also be heading to the World U-18 tournament in the Czech Republic on Aug. 9, scouting games on big ice and seeing potential opponents before returning for Royals camp two weeks later.
“Any time you get an opportunity to represent your country on the world stage is a great opportunity,” Lowry said of the camp. “We were fortunate that we lived the experience last year and we were able to do it in Canada. What is different now is you’re the defending champ and pressure changes, but it’s still a tremendous honour.”
Especially for Hicketts, who last season made the junior team based on his performance at the Subway Series games.
“There are going to be guys who find their opportunities through the Subway games again,” Lowry said in reference to his defenceman, one of five gold medallists who will be at this camp.
One of them will not be Edmonton Oilers first overall pick Connor McDavid. Jokingly asked about how much it would take to get new Oilers’ general manager Peter Chiarelli to send McDavid back for the World Junior Hockey Championship in December, the stern, but humourous, Lowry replied: “This is the first I’ve heard he’s not coming back.”
A good chuckle was followed by: “We must maintain a sense of humour in this part of it.”
But anyone who knows the former 19-year NHLer understands he’ll be all business once they step on the ice on Saturday.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Royals announced Wednesday they had traded 19-year-old defenceman Bryton Sayers to the Saskatoon Blades for a conditional draft pick. Sayers was acquired from Lethbridge at the 2014-15 WHL trade deadline. The Prince Albert, Sask., native had 1G, 1A in 20 regular-season games for Victoria and one helper in 10 playoff games. … Duncan defenceman Josh Anderson, of the Prince George Cougars, is also at the U-18 camp.
