WHL Victoria Royals

Royals' Joe Hicketts Named to Team WHL Roster for 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series

Published on October 19, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Victoria Royals News Release


Victoria, BC- The Victoria Royals would like to congratulate defenceman Joe Hicketts on being named to Team WHL's roster for the upcoming CHL Canada Russia Series.

Hicketts' appointment to Team WHL comes after recording 10 points (10a) in 10 games so far this season for Victoria.

Last year, Hicketts skated in two games for Team WHL and registered one goal and one assist versus Team Russia. The native of Kamloops, BC registered a career season in 2014-15 which saw him lead the Western Conference in scoring for defencemen and finish second in the WHL with 64 points (12g-52a) in 62 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 notched 122 points (24g-98a) over 176 games with Victoria.

For the second consecutive year Hicketts will be joined by Royals' Head Coach Dave Lowry, who will once again be the bench boss for Team WHL. Lowry will also serve as head coach for Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships.

Hicketts is the fifth player from the Royals' franchise to play in the CHL Canada Russia Series and the first to play in it twice. Forward Steven Hodges played for Team WHL in 2012, while forwards Kevin Sundher, Ryan Howse and Mark Santorelli competed at the event in 2011, 2010 and 2007, respectively.

The CHL Canada Russia Series features regional teams of CHL All-Stars competing against Team Russia in a six-game event serving as an integral part of the identification process for Team Canada prior to the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The WHL hosts the first two games of the six-game series with the middle leg hosted by the OHL and the final two games played in the QMJHL.

Team WHL faces Team Russia for the first two games of the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series. Kelowna will kick-off the series on Monday, November 9th while Kamloops will welcome the WHL All-Stars and Team Russia for the second game on Tuesday, November 10th. The 2015 Canada Russia Series is will be broadcast nationally in its entirety live on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.

The schedule for the 2015 Canada Russia Series is as follows:

Game 1 - Monday, November 9th at Kelowna, BC

Game 2 - Tuesday, November 10th at Kamloops, BC

Game 3 - Thursday, November 12th at Owen Sound, ON

Game 4 - Monday, November 16th at Windsor, ON

Game 5 - Tuesday, November 17th at Rouyn-Noranda, QC

Game 6 - Thursday, November 19th at Halifax, NS

The Royals will head to Kamloops for a match-up vs. the Blazers on Wednesday with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The Royals will then travel to Spokane to face the Chiefs on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop for both games is slated for 7:05 p.m.

Victoria returns home on Tuesday, October 27th against the Lethbridge Hurricanes for Winter Driving Awareness Night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Group together and save big. Royals' games are an exciting and fun way to enjoy a night out with family, friends, co-workers or teammates. Ticket packages start at $12 per ticket for groups of 10 or more and include a mention on the Jumbotron at the game. Ask about packaging a ticket with a Royals hat, or upgrading your seats to the club section. For more details call 250-220-7889 or visit tickets@victoriaroyals.com.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2015


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