Joe Hicketts Bio
Joseph Hicketts, born on May 4, 1996, in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 173 centimetres tall and weighing 82 kilograms, Hicketts has built a reputation as a reliable, offensively gifted blue-liner whose leadership qualities have been evident since his junior days. He began his professional career in 2016 and has suited up for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Iowa Wild in addition to his current organizations.
Known for his poise, passing, and penalty-killing instincts, Hicketts has represented Canada at multiple international tournaments, including a gold-medal performance at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. Undrafted by an NHL club, he signed his first professional contract as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings and steadily worked his way through the organization’s development pipeline. His career arc from Western Hockey League standout to two-way NHL contract holder reflects both perseverance and consistent production at every level he has played.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Hicketts grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia, a city with a deep hockey tradition in western Canada. As a young player, he joined the Kamloops Bantam AAA Jardine Blazers for the 2010–11 season, where he posted eighteen goals and 41 assists in 51 games. That performance quickly established him as one of the top young defencemen in the province and drew the attention of Western Hockey League scouts. Following his bantam season, Hicketts spent 2011–12 at the Okanagan Hockey Academy in Penticton, British Columbia, a private program widely recognized for developing elite hockey talent.
His time at the Okanagan Hockey Academy helped refine the offensive skills and defensive awareness that would later define his game. Coaches at the academy exposed him to high-tempo practices, video sessions, and structured strength training, all of which prepared him for the rigours of major-junior hockey. Hicketts’s family background in Kamloops provided a steady support system, and the region’s competitive minor-hockey circuit helped shape his competitive edge.
Path to Professional Hockey
Hicketts was selected 12th overall by the Victoria Royals in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, beginning his major-junior career in earnest. During the 2012–13 season, he played in 67 of 72 regular-season games for the Royals, recording six goals and 18 assists in his first WHL campaign. The following year, Hicketts was named an assistant captain and added six goals and 18 assists in 36 games before undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury in October 2013 that sidelined him for roughly three months.
Despite the injury setback, Hicketts returned strongly and ranked second among WHL defencemen in scoring during 2014–15 with 12 goals and 52 assists in 62 games, earning a spot on the WHL Western Conference Second All-Star Team. Undrafted in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, he accepted an invitation to the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp and later signed a three-year, $1.9 million entry-level contract on September 24, 2014. He closed his WHL career in 2015–16 with 8 goals and 53 assists in 59 games, set the Royals’ all-time franchise record for points by a defenceman with 173, and was named Western Conference Top Defenceman and Player of the Year.
Joe Hicketts Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Hicketts opened his first professional season by attending Detroit Red Wings training camp before being assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins on October 8, 2016. With the Griffins, he adjusted to the pace and physicality of professional hockey, focusing on his defensive game while contributing offensively when possible. By the 2017–18 season, his steady play in Grand Rapids had earned him a longer look from Detroit’s coaching staff.
On January 21, 2018, Hicketts received his first NHL recall and made his league debut the next night against the New Jersey Devils, logging 15 minutes and 13 seconds of ice time, including 4:22 on the penalty kill. Although he was briefly returned to the Griffins, a second recall on March 26, 2018, allowed him to record his first NHL points, assisting on goals by Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm in a 5–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 27, 2018. He finished that stint with three assists, a plus-five rating, and 12 blocked shots across five NHL games before returning to Grand Rapids.
Detroit Red Wings Era (2018–2021)
Hicketts began the 2018–19 season in the NHL with the Red Wings, averaging 17:06 of ice time per game and ranking second among team defencemen with 15 hits through his first eight appearances. After a brief demotion to Grand Rapids, he was recalled under emergency conditions on April 1, 2019, and went on to appear in 11 NHL games that season. With the Griffins, he led team defencemen in scoring with three goals and 24 assists in 61 games, reinforcing his two-way reputation.
On July 17, 2019, the Red Wings rewarded his development with a two-year contract extension. Hicketts continued to shuttle between Detroit and Grand Rapids, providing organizational depth at the blue-line position. By January 2021, he was once again assigned to the Griffins as the Red Wings balanced their roster with younger prospects.
Minnesota Wild Era (2021–2023)
On July 28, 2021, Hicketts signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild as a free agent. Although he never appeared in an NHL game for the organization, he spent the entirety of his deal with the AHL affiliate Iowa Wild, serving as a veteran presence on the back end. His time in Iowa allowed him to refine his power-play quarterbacking and penalty-killing responsibilities while mentoring younger defencemen.
The stability of a two-year deal gave Hicketts the platform to post consistent offensive numbers in the AHL and demonstrate the leadership that had marked his junior career. Although his NHL playing time was limited during this stretch, his professional reliability kept him firmly within the league’s developmental ecosystem.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2023–Present)
Following the expiration of his Minnesota contract, Hicketts signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings on July 2, 2023. He was assigned to the Ontario Reign, where he quickly became a top-pairing defenceman and a key power-play contributor. His smooth skating and accurate breakout passes translated well to the Kings’ system, and his veteran experience helped stabilize Ontario’s blue-line corps.
On March 20, 2025, the Kings signed Hicketts to a two-year, two-way contract extension with an average annual value of $775,000, signalling the organization’s confidence in his continued development. The deal reflects his standing as a trusted depth defenceman within the Kings’ structure and locks in his role with both Los Angeles and Ontario through the 2026–27 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hicketts is recognized for his smooth skating, efficient first pass, and mature decision-making in all three zones. He excels in transition, using his edgework and hockey IQ to escape pressure and initiate offensive rushes. Coaches have praised his penalty-killing poise and his willingness to block shots, while teammates value his calm presence during late-game situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most celebrated moments are his gold-medal win with Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship and his record-setting WHL career with the Victoria Royals, where he became the franchise’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman. His NHL debut on January 22, 2018, and his first NHL points against the Pittsburgh Penguins remain defining milestones in his professional journey.
Joe Hicketts Career Wins
Joseph Hicketts has assembled a steady collection of team and individual accomplishments across junior, international, and professional hockey. His résumé includes a World Junior gold medal, a WHL Western Conference Player of the Year award, and multiple AHL playoff appearances with the Grand Rapids Griffins and Ontario Reign.
International Highlights
Hicketts captained Canada’s Winter Youth Olympic team to a bronze medal in 2012 and captained Team Pacific at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, posting one goal and three assists in seven games to help Canada capture bronze. His most prominent international triumph came at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where he recorded three assists in seven games and won gold. He returned to the World Juniors in 2016, finishing sixth overall with one goal and two assists in five games.
Junior and Professional Highlights
With the Victoria Royals, Hicketts was twice named to the WHL Western Conference All-Star Team, earned Western Conference Top Defenceman honours in 2015–16, and set franchise records for career points and power-play assists by a defenceman. At the professional level, he has contributed to deep Calder Cup playoff runs with the Grand Rapids Griffins and has served as a top-minute defenceman for the Ontario Reign, helping the team compete consistently in the AHL’s Pacific Division.
Joe Hicketts Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hicketts was raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, where his family supported his early hockey development. While specific details about his parents and siblings are not publicly confirmed in available sources, his upbringing in a hockey-rich region of western Canada played a central role in his path to the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Hicketts is known for his quiet, team-first personality and his commitment to community engagement. He has not publicly disclosed details of his marital status or children, and he tends to keep his personal life private while focusing on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Joseph Hicketts entered the 2024–25 season as a veteran anchor on the Ontario Reign blue line and a dependable call-up option for the Los Angeles Kings. His steady two-way play helped Ontario compete near the top of the AHL’s Pacific Division, and his leadership in the dressing room remained a valuable asset for a team featuring several first- and second-year professionals.
On March 20, 2025, the Kings rewarded Hicketts’s consistency with a two-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $775,000, underscoring his importance to the organization’s depth chart. The deal also provided Hicketts with long-term security as he continues to push for additional NHL appearances with Los Angeles.
Looking ahead, Hicketts is expected to remain a central figure for the Ontario Reign while remaining available for NHL call-ups. His blend of offensive touch, penalty-killing reliability, and veteran experience positions him as a steady contributor for the Kings organization through the end of his new contract and beyond.