Hicketts, 23, skated in 11 games with the Red Wings during the 2018-19 campaign and has totaled 16 NHL appearances over the last two seasons, compiling three assists, two penalty minutes, 18 shots on goal, 26 hits and 39 blocked shots in 18:12 average time on ice. Hicketts also appeared in 64 games with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins in 2018-19 and more-than-doubled his point total from the previous season, leading the team's defensemen with 27 points (3-24-27) in 64 games. Entering his fourth professional season, Hicketts has played 204 AHL games with the Griffins since 2016-17, posting 73 points (13-60-73), a plus-seven rating and 139 penalty minutes. He captured a 2017 Calder Cup championship as a rookie and has recorded 11 points (1-10-11), a plus-seven rating and 18 penalty minutes in 29 career AHL postseason games.
A native of Kamloops, British Columbia, Hicketts was originally signed by the Red Wings as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2014-15 season. Before turning pro, the 5-foot-8, 180-pound defenseman spent four seasons with the Victoria Royals in the Western Hockey League, notching 173 points (32-141-173), a plus-69 rating and 149 penalty minutes in 224 regular-season contests and 15 points (1-14-15) and 29 penalty minutes in 31 WHL playoff games. He served as Victoria's captain from 2014-16 and posted consecutive 60-point seasons for the team, earning him a spot on the WHL West Second All-Star Team in 2015 and the First All-Star Team in 2016. Additionally, Hicketts has represented Canada in international play on multiple occasions, including the 2015 and 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships. Hicketts won gold in 2015 and served as an alternate captain in 2016, registering six points (1-5-6) in 12 games over the two tournaments. He also earned medals at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament (gold), 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (silver) and 2014 World Under-18 Championship (bronze).
Joe Hicketts, Defense
Born May 4 1996 -- Kamloops, BC
Height 5.08 -- Weight 180 -- Shoots L
