DETROIT -- Joe Hicketts may not have been drafted but he has done nothing but impress since signing an entry-level contract with the Red Wings in September of 2014.
Hicketts, the captain of the Victoria Royals, was just named the Western Hockey League's Western Conference top defenseman and a first team All-Star.
"It's a great honor," Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin said. "There's obviously been a lot of really good defensemen that have come before him that have won that award that have gone on to have great careers."
In addition, Hicketts, the WHL's Western Conference player of the year, is also up against Moose Jaw Warriors forward Dryden Hunt for WHL player of the year, to be announced May 4.