Jumbo Joe is in the Show. Former Victoria Royals captain Joe Hicketts played his first National Hockey League game on Monday night, suiting up on defence for the Detroit Red Wings in a 3-0 road victory at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils.
Affectionately known as Jumbo Joe in these parts and the most popular player to don the blue and white of the Royals, Hicketts played 15:13 of total ice time, finished plus-1 with one hit, three blocked shots and two giveaways. He killed penalties with defensive partner Jonathan Ericsson, finishing with 4:22 of penalty killing time. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that, as a kid, you dream of, to play your first National Hockey League game and I鈥檓 obviously excited with my parents coming in,鈥� he told the Fox broadcast via Sportsnet. 鈥淚t should be a fun day and I look forward to the opportunity.鈥�
With his size 鈥� just five-foot-eight and 180 pounds 鈥� many wondered whether the chance would ever come.
鈥淚 think the biggest part of my personality and character is being positive, being relentless in a way. I think I鈥檝e been able to push through that adversity that I鈥檝e faced throughout my career so far and it鈥檚 made me better for it as a player and person. I鈥檓 definitely proud of this moment, that I鈥檓 here tonight, and I鈥檓 ready for it,鈥� he added pre-game.
Still just 21, Hicketts was called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League on Sunday and became the first member of the Royals franchise (post the Chilliwack Bruins days) to play in an NHL game 鈥� a fact that was not lost on current Royals general manager Cam Hope.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a pretty young franchise, so it had to happen eventually and I think there isn鈥檛 a guy that deserves it more than Joe, no one who has worked harder, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� said Hope.
That鈥檚 been Hicketts鈥� trademark throughout as he has fought the stigma of being too small to be a regular NHLer.
鈥淗e finds a way to show people that they have underestimated him all along,鈥� said Hope. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not dissimilar to the way Matthew Phillips plays. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a coincidence that they are both guys that weren鈥檛 given the gift of height, so from a young age they knew they were going to have to do it on determination and prove people wrong.鈥�
In 43 games with Grand Rapids this season, Hicketts had two goals and eight assists to go with 26 penalty minutes and he was minus-10 in the plus/minus department.
Last season, he was instrumental in the Griffins鈥� run to their Calder Cup championship, tallying seven goals and 27 assists in 73 games with a plus-15 rating. He was second in the AHL鈥檚 rookie defenceman scoring in playoffs with a goal and seven assists in all 19 appearances in the title run.
Throughout his career, Hicketts has fought the stigma of size, but he鈥檚 proved he certainly doesn鈥檛 play a small man鈥檚 game and that鈥檚 what led to his eventual first look.
鈥淛oe has a couple things I love. He鈥檚 got swagger and he鈥檚 got a great brain for the game. I think we could use some of that swagger,鈥� Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill told media on Sunday.
鈥淲e need a little more offence from our back end. He hasn鈥檛 had an unreal year, production-wise, this year, but if you look historically, certainly his point production last year as a rookie, his point production his last few years of junior were great. He had a great training camp for us.
鈥淪o, we鈥檙e going to give him a look. I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檒l be a long look or short look, he鈥檒l have something to say about that. I just think the swagger with which he plays and his ability to make plays offensively would be the reason why we鈥檙e bringing him up.鈥�
Hicketts totalled 173 points (32 goals and 141 assists) in 224 career games with the Royals, where he served as captain the past two years. He also represented sa国际传媒 twice at the World Junior Hockey Championship, winning gold the first time and wearing an 鈥楢鈥� as assistant captain the second.
Blashill said it鈥檚 Hicketts鈥� overall body of work that has earned him the call-up as he replaces injured defenceman Trevor Daley. Blashill also likes Hicketts鈥� physical game and the fact that he is not intimidated going against larger opponents.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got a big heart, big compete. He鈥檚 excelled at every level because of those things,鈥� Blashill told media. 鈥淗is skill set doesn鈥檛 scream NHL in terms of skating, size, body, all that, but he鈥檚 proven people wrong his whole life.
鈥淗e was one of the best defencemen when he played for the Canadian world junior team. He was a big piece of their Calder Cup championship team last year in Grand Rapids and I think he brings stuff to the table that can help our team.
鈥淭he more guys you have like that, it鈥檚 an important component of a hockey team,鈥� Blashill added.
In the Red Wings preseason, Hicketts played four games, collecting four assists (including three on the power play).
Hicketts, who hails from Kamloops, was undrafted, but signed as a free agent. He wore his customary No. 2 with the Red Wings on Monday with parents Mike and Lee-Gaye Hicketts in the stands.
