Monday 20 October 2014

Hicketts Named WHL Player Of The Week

ROYALS’ JOE HICKETTS NAMED DENNY’S WHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Victoria defender records seven points in four games.

For Immediate Release
Monday, October 20, 2014

Victoria, BC- The Western Hockey League today announced that Victoria Royals’ defenceman Joe Hicketts has been named Denny’s WHL Player of the week.

Hicketts, an 18-year-old from Kamloops, BC recorded seven points (1g-6a) over the Royals’ four games last week to go along with four penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating on his way to the honour. The 5-8, 186 lb blueliner becomes the second player (Alex Gogolev, 2012-2013) in Victoria Royals team history to receive the Denny’s WHL Player of the Week award.

In eight games played so far in the month of October, Hicketts has notched 11 points (2g-9a) to go along with six minutes in penalties. Hicketts is tied for first in league scoring for defencemen with four goals and 11 assists in 11 games played.


Drafted by the Royals in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft as the club’s first ever draft pick, Hicketts has registered 63 points (16g-47a) over 115 games with Victoria.


Victoria now returns home for a pair of games vs. the Vancouver Giants on Friday October 24th and Saturday October 25th. Friday’s contest marks the unveiling of the Royals third jersey, while Saturday’s game is the annual Pink in the Rink Night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Get your tickets today by calling 250-220-7777 or visiting at www.victoriaroyals.com.  

ROYALS’ JOE HICKETTS Named 
Denny's WHL Player Of The Week

Calgary, AB - The Western Hockey League announced today that Victoria Royals’ defenceman Joe Hicketts is the Denny’s WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 19, 2014. 

Hicketts amassed a goal and six assists for seven points along with a plus-5 rating in four road games over the past week, helping the Royals post a 3-1-0-0 record in that span.

On Tuesday, October 14th, Hicketts recorded three assists in a 6-5 overtime victory over the Red Deer Rebels.  On Wednesday, October 15th, Hicketts scored his fourth goal of the season in a 3-2 defeat to the Edmonton Oil Kings.  On Friday, October 17th, he notched two assists, including setting up the game-winning goal, and was named the game’s 1st Star in a 4-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes.  On Saturday, October 18th, Hicketts extended his point streak to four games with an assist in a 4-0 shutout win over the Kootenay Ice.

Hicketts, an 18-year-old from Kamloops, B.C., is in his third season in the WHL with the Victoria Royals.  The 5’8”, 186-lb rearguard has amassed 16 goals and 62 points in 115 career regular-season contests, including four goals and 14 points in 11 games to start the 2014-15 season. The Royals’ first round pick, 12th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, Hicketts recently signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings after attending their training camp in September 2014.

The WHL has also nominated Payton Lee of the Vancouver Giants for the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week award. An 18-year-old product of Cranbrook, B.C., Lee posted a 2-0-0-0 record with a shutout in two starts over the past week, allowing just one goal on 50 shots for a 0.50 goals-against average and a .980 save percentage in that span.  On Friday, October 17th, Lee stopped all 23 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season while being named the game’s 1st Star in a 3-0 win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers.  On Saturday, October 18th, Lee made 26 saves on 27 shots to earn his sixth win of the season in a 9-1 victory over the visiting Prince George Cougars.  Lee is in his third season in the WHL with the Giants, posting a 41-43-4-3 record with three shutouts in 94 career appearances.  He selected by the Giants in the second round, 28th overall, in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  Lee is eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft.

Denny’s WHL Player of the Week
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19: Joe Hicketts, Victoria Royals
Oct. 6 – Oct. 12: Ivan Nikolishin, Everett Silvertips
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5: Madison Bowey, Kelowna Rockets
Sept. 22 – Sept. 28: Carson Stadnyk, Everett Silvertips
Sept. 19 – Sept. 21: Jay Merkley, Swift Current Broncos