That diminutive, but astute, defenceman moving the puck over the blue line with legs powerfully churning looks so familiar. That鈥檚 because he has been doing it the past four seasons at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. But Victoria Royals fans shouldn鈥檛 get their hopes up by seeing 2015-16 captain Joe Hicketts skating in training camp this week.
He is eligible to return as a 20-year-old but there is only a slim chance that will happen. It鈥檚 up to Detroit of the NHL. There seems to be a feeling there is little left for the two-time Canadian junior team player to prove in the Western Hockey League and it鈥檚 time for him to move up to the pro ranks in the Red Wings system.
Hicketts himself believes that. No disrespect to Victoria, but he doesn鈥檛 want to be back. He鈥檚 shooting for it all as a pro rookie.
鈥淚 am not looking to limit my chances. My goal is the top team [Red Wings]. After that, the goal is to stick in the AHL,鈥� said Hicketts.
Those are the top two of four possible scenarios this season awaiting Hicketts, which include the Red Wings, AHL-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, ECHL-affiliate Toledo Walleye or back to junior with the Royals.
Hicketts, in his mind, has already moved on. So have the Royals.
Even though Hicketts is eligible to officially be in Royals camp, he is doing so almost as a guest skater.
鈥淭he [Royals] guys are preparing for me not to be here and I am giving them their space,鈥� he said.
Which leaves open the question of who will be this season鈥檚 captain in Victoria?
Some hockey teams now make a big media production out of announcing their captain and assistant captains, complete with players emerging from behind smoke machines and with a light show. That鈥檚 never been the Royals鈥� style. Few teams are so low-key with their captain pick. One day in exhibition, or early in the season, you will just notice there is a guy wearing the 鈥楥.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 way too early yet to make that [captain for 2016-17] decision,鈥� said Royals GM Cam Hope.
鈥淲e do it by committee [with management, coaches and scouts all having a say]. I gather in everybody鈥檚 opinions and then try not to screw it up.鈥�
There are any number of options to replace Hicketts on a veteran-heavy roster returning from a team that is the defending WHL regular-season champion. Prime among them is fifth-year blue-liner Ryan Gagnon, an understated but steady and reliable 20-year-old performer.
鈥淚t would be a huge honour,鈥� said Gagnon.
鈥淚 would take it in stride. I wouldn鈥檛 change anything. I would prepare the same way I always do. I try to help out the guys any way I can. I lead by example but I can be vocal.鈥�
As part of the senior leadership group, Gagnon knows complacency as defending league regular-season champions can鈥檛 be part of the equation this season.
鈥淓very team is going to be gunning for us. We鈥檙e not sneaking up on anybody this time around. Every night is going to be a battle,鈥� he said.
And with still much to prove because the regular-season success wasn鈥檛 followed by the same in the playoffs after the shocking Game 7, last-gasp collapse against Kelowna in the second round.
鈥淟ast year was special, but what happened in that playoff game still hurts,鈥� said Gagnon.
It won鈥檛 soon be forgotten. How can it be?
鈥淧eople bring it up all the time,鈥� said Gagnon.
鈥淎nd we talk about it among ourselves.鈥�
That fateful night in April can be the motivator for this season. Hicketts agrees, even though he likely won鈥檛 be part of this season鈥檚 Royals team.
鈥淚t was a sad moment, but one we all learned from,鈥� said Hicketts.
Meanwhile, despite his value to the Royals, the undrafted Gagnon has yet to draw pro interest like Hicketts did when the latter was signed by the Red Wings as an undrafted free agent.
Gagnon has five years in the Canadian university CIS guaranteed to be paid for if that鈥檚 the route he chooses after this season.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to go pro but I would definitely look at the CIS,鈥� he said.
Gagnon said a profession such as pharmacist would intrigue him.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been more interested in science than arts,鈥� he said.
Just having this conversation brings home how quickly time passes in a junior career.
鈥淚t鈥檚 weird thinking back . . . it all seems like a blur . . . and you realize how fast it goes,鈥� said a reflective Gagnon.
The Royals concluded training camp practice and scrimmage sessions Tuesday ahead of the annual Blue/White intra-squad game tonight at 7 p.m. at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Admission is by donation with proceeds going to the Victoria Royals Education and Scholarship Fund.
The exhibition season opens Friday with the Royals playing the Blazers in Kamloops, followed by games Saturday in Kelowna against the Rockets, and Sunday in Everett, Washington, against the Tri-City Americans.
