HICKETTS IN TOWN

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings have reassigned defenseman Joe Hicketts from the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Hicketts, 18, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Wings on September 24 after attending Detroit’s development camp and the 2014 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City last summer. In 62 games with Victoria this season, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound blueliner ranked second among WHL defensemen in scoring with 64 points (12-52—64) in 62 games, while posting 48 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating. In 165 career games with the Royals from 2012-15, Hicketts has amassed 112 points (24-88—112), 105 PIM and a plus-31 rating. In March, Hicketts was named to the 2014-15 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team.

A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, Hicketts has represented Canada on the international stage a number of times, most recently winning a gold medal on his country’s home ice at the 2015 World Junior Championship. He also won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2014 Under-18 World Championship in Finland and captained Team Pacific at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Quebec.

The Griffins will begin their best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the Toronto Marlies this weekend. Grand Rapids will visit Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. before returning to Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. for the first of as many as three straight home games.

Single-game playoff tickets are available at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737, or via the Griffins app for iPhone or Android. Available for all playoff home games, Playoff 4-Packs include four or more tickets at a savings of $3 per ticket plus no service fees. To purchase a Playoff 4-Pack, visit griffinshockey.com/playoffs or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Fans who want to experience every Griffins game at Van Andel Arena during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs can purchase a Griffins Playoff Pass. Enjoy the same great seat at significant savings plus the convenience of the “pay-as-we-play” method of payment. To reserve your Griffins Playoff Pass, please call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

JOE HICKETTS * Defenseman

Height: 5’8" Weight: 175 Shoots: Left Born: 5/4/96 in Kamloops, British Columbia

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings have reassigned defenseman Joe Hicketts from the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Hicketts, 18, signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Wings on September 24 after attending Detroit’s development camp and the 2014 NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City last summer. In 62 games with Victoria this season, the 5-foot-8, 175-pound blueliner ranked second among WHL defensemen in scoring with 64 points (12-52—64) in 62 games, while posting 48 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating. In 165 career games with the Royals from 2012-15, Hicketts has amassed 112 points (24-88—112), 105 PIM and a plus-31 rating. In March, Hicketts was named to the 2014-15 WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team.

A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, Hicketts has represented Canada on the international stage a number of times, most recently winning a gold medal on his country’s home ice at the 2015 World Junior Championship. He also won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2014 Under-18 World Championship in Finland and captained Team Pacific at the 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Quebec.

The Griffins will begin their best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the Toronto Marlies this weekend. Grand Rapids will visit Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. before returning to Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, April 29 at 7 p.m. for the first of as many as three straight home games.

Single-game playoff tickets are available at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737, or via the Griffins app for iPhone or Android. Available for all playoff home games, Playoff 4-Packs include four or more tickets at a savings of $3 per ticket plus no service fees. To purchase a Playoff 4-Pack, visit griffinshockey.com/playoffs or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

Fans who want to experience every Griffins game at Van Andel Arena during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs can purchase a Griffins Playoff Pass. Enjoy the same great seat at significant savings plus the convenience of the “pay-as-we-play” method of payment. To reserve your Griffins Playoff Pass, please call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2.

JOE HICKETTS * Defenseman

Height: 5’8" Weight: 175 Shoots: Left Born: 5/4/96 in Kamloops, British Columbia