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View Full Version : THREE ROYALS' PROSPECTS NAMED TO TEAM BC



CdnSailor
10-14-2011, 02:03 PM
14 Oct 11

The first three bantam picks in Victoria Royals' history established a new first for the team Thursday. Defencemen Joe Hicketts and Ryan Gagnon, along with forward Michael Bell, are the first Royals' prospects to be invited to play at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup, a collection of the top 1996-born players from Canada's four western-most provinces. All three will suit up for Team BC in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, when the tournament runs October 27-30.

Hicketts was the Royals' first draft pick, going 12th overall in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft. The 5'7", 172 pound product of Kamloops, BC, plays for the Okanagan Hockey Academy in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League. Last year with the Kamloops Bantam AAA Blazers, Hicketts produced 18 goals and 41 assists for 59 points in 51 games.

Bell and Gagnon are both with the Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget Hockey League this season. Bell was the Royals' second pick in the 2011 WHL Draft, taken in the third round, 55th overall. Through five games for the Cougars, Bell has one assist and six penalty minutes. The 5'11", 100 pound Bell is from Kitimat, BC.

Gagnon, who hails from Quesnel, BC, was chosen right after Bell as the Royals made him the 56th overall selection. The 6'0", 175 pound blue-liner has three assists in six games for the Cougars and has eight penalty minutes.

Team BC will look to take the crown from Team Alberta, the first U16 Challenge Cup winner when the tournament was held in Blackfalds, Alberta, in 2009. Of the 80 players that took part in the event two years ago, 50 currently play in the WHL.