Victoria Royals defenceman Joe Hicketts has been named as an alternate captain for Team Canada for the upcoming 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
Moose Jaw Warriors’ forward Brayden Point will serve as captain for Team Canada.
Hicketts was a member of Canada’s gold medal winning squad at last year’s World Junior Hockey Championships. Through seven tournament games with Team Canada, Hicketts recorded three assists and a +3 rating to go with two minutes in penalties.
The native of Kamloops, BC recently served as captain for Team WHL in Game 2 of the Canada Russia series which took place in his hometown. Over the first two games of the series against Team Russia, Hicketts recorded two assists and a +2 rating.
The 5-8, 175 lb blueliner has served as captain of the Royals since the 2014-15 season, and was an assistant captain during the 2013-14 campaign.
The annual tournament will begin on Saturday and conclude on Tuesday, January 5th. Team Canada will open the tournament with a match against the USA on Boxing Day.
The Victoria Royals return to action, without Hicketts, after the holiday break and will battle the Prince George Cougars for second place in the BC Division on Sunday and Monday night at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Sunday’s contest is Black Press Hockey Card Night. Puck drop for both games is at 7:00 p.m.