Victoria Royals captain Joe Hicketts received some advice from both head coach Dave Lowry and general manager Cam Hope in exit meetings before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League for the remainder of the playoff season.
鈥淭hey just said they figured I would be going and good luck with everything and go up there and make an impression,鈥� Hicketts said shortly after arriving in Michigan on Sunday where the Griffins are leading the Milwaukee Admirals 2-0 in the best-of-five Central Division semifinals. Game 3 is set for tonight.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 the first step for a tryout for next year, so it鈥檚 going to be exciting. That鈥檚 the goal,鈥� he said of playing in the minors. 鈥淎s much as I love Victoria, it鈥檚 time to move my hockey career to the next level and the minor-pro league is probably best for that.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to work hard this summer and give myself a real opportunity to do that. I鈥檝e done a lot in the WHL and with two world juniors. I鈥檝e got the experience and know what it takes to get to that next level. I鈥檓 looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.鈥�
The Detroit Red Wings assigned the Royals鈥� defenceman 鈥� who signed a three-year entry-level contract in September of 2014 鈥� to their farm club on Sunday, along with Evgeny Svechnikov of the Quebec Major Junior League鈥檚 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Hicketts, 19, will now try and compete with and against players, in some instances, almost twice his age. Longtime NHLer Daniel Cleary is on the Griffins鈥� roster.
鈥淚 get to experience the next level of hockey. I鈥檓 not sure if I鈥檒l get in the lineup or not, but I鈥檒l get to learn from the older players and see what pro hockey is about again,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ast year, I came in wide-eyed and didn鈥檛 know how to soak it all in. This year, I know what to expect a little more and I can try and make the most of it.鈥�
Hicketts was called up last year, but didn鈥檛 play for Grand Rapids, instead travelling and practising daily as an AHLer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great learning experience with guys who have played a couple hundred NHL games and guys who are all over, from 19 to the captain, who is 38 or 39,鈥� said Hicketts, who had to get over the recent crushing end to the Royals鈥� season, allowing a goal with 0.2 seconds to tie and then losing in overtime to Kelowna in Game 7.
鈥淚鈥檝e had some time to soak in what happened. That鈥檚 hockey, I guess. You need a day or two. To work all season to give ourselves a chance to do what we did. To win 50 games in a season is special, and whenever you do that you want to make your season go as long as possible.
鈥淭he abruptness of the ending shocks you and that was the biggest thing for the first two days. It鈥檚 shocking to know that it can happen like that,鈥� he said.
The team was then able to say its goodbyes.
鈥淵ou try and savour those last couple of days with each other, knowing full well that not everyone will be together again. We had a tight enough team to know that we鈥檒l see each other along the line and I look forward to talking to everyone as the years go on.鈥�
Now he welcomes the next step.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time to try and get the career going in another direction. The steps I took in the WHL helped me develop and further my career,鈥� he stressed.
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