Hicketts recorded six goals and 18 assists in 36 regular season games for the Royals, before missing three months after undergoing surgery for an upper-body injury in October 2013.

[2] Hicketts was undrafted in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but was invited to attend the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp the following week.

[4][5] On September 24, 2014, one day after the end of training camp, Hicketts was signed as a free agent by the Red Wings to a three-year, $1.9 million entry-level contract.

Earlier this season, Hicketts set the Royals' all-time franchise record for most career points by a defenceman (173) and powerplay assists (70).

[19] He made his NHL debut the next night in a game against the New Jersey Devils, logging 15:13 of ice time, along with 4:22 on the penalty kill.

[21] Hicketts recorded his first two NHL points by assisting on Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm's goals on March 27, 2018, in a 5–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Hicketts represented Canada at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded one goal and three assists in seven games, and won a bronze medal.

Hicketts also represented Canada at the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, where he recorded three assists in seven games, and won a gold medal.

Hicketts represented Canada at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he recorded one goal and two assists in five games, and finished in sixth place.