Victoria Royals defenceman Joe Hicketts has been named captain of Team WHL for Game 2 of the upcoming CHL Canada Russia Series in Kamloops, BC on Tuesday, November 10th.
Hicketts has also been named as one of three assistant captains for Game 1 of the series on Monday, November 9th in Kelowna, BC. The Moose Jaw Warriors’ Brayden Point will serve as captain for Team WHL in Game 1.
The 19-year old defenceman has recorded 19 points (1g-18a) in 18 games so far this season for Victoria. The 5-8, 177 lb blueliner is currently second in the league for most points by a defender.
Last year, Hicketts skated in two games for Team WHL and registered one goal and one assist versus Team Russia. The product of Kamloops, BC served as an assistant captain for Team WHL in Game 2, which took place in Brandon, MB.
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 be named captain. 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
Source: Victoria Royals
