Tij Iginla

Last updated

Tij Iginla
Born (2006-08-04) August 4, 2006 (age 18)
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Utah Hockey Club
Kelowna Rockets  (WHL)
NHL draft 6th overall, 2024
Utah Hockey Club

Tij Iginla (born August 4, 2006) is a Canadian ice hockey forward for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as a prospect to the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the son of Calgary Flames legend and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jarome Iginla. He was the first-ever draft pick of the Utah Hockey Club, selected sixth overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

While attending RINK Academy in Kelowna, where as a 15-year-old playing at the under-18 level he recorded 48 points in 32 games, Iginla was drafted ninth overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2021 Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft. [1]

Iginla scored his first WHL goal on October 14, 2022, against the Edmonton Oil Kings. [2] In 48 games with the Thunderbirds in his rookie 2022–23 season, he scored 6 goals and 18 points. [3] Seattle would win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as 2023 WHL champions, and would make it to the finals of the 2023 Memorial Cup, but Iginla would only play three games, all in the first round. [4] In June 2023, Iginla was traded by the Thunderbirds to the Kelowna Rockets. Though not the reason for the move, it allowed him to live at home rather than with a billet family. [1]

Entering the 2023–24 season, Iginla was not recognized as a top-level prospect for the upcoming 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He began the year with a "B" rating from NHL Central Scouting, indicating a projected second- or third-round pick, but after a torrid start to the season that saw him score 13 goals and 21 points in his first 12 games, he was upgraded to an "A" prospect, a likely first-round selection. [5] [6] In December 2023, Iginla was selected as one of 40 draft eligible prospects to compete at the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. [7] He finished the year with 47 goals and 84 points in 64 games. [8] The Rockets qualified to the WHL playoffs, facing the Wenatchee Wild in the first round. Iginla scored eight goals over the course of the series, which the Rockets won in six games, tying a franchise record for goals in a single playoff series. [9] They were defeated by the Prince George Cougars in five games in the second round, and Iginla finished the postseason with nine goals and fifteen points in eleven playoff games. [10]

Considered a likely selection high in the first round of the 2024 NHL entry draft, Iginla was taken sixth overall by the Utah Hockey Club. As the team had been newly established with the personnel of the deactivated Arizona Coyotes, he was their first-ever draft selection, which he called "a huge honour," adding that it "would've been a surreal feeling to get picked by any team. But to be the first pick of a franchise is really cool." [11]

On July 11, 2024, Iginla signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Utah Hockey Club. [12]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World U18 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Finland

Iginla made his international debut for Canada as a member of Team Canada Red at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He scored two goals and five assists in seven games and won a silver medal. [13] He represented Canada at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships, scoring six goals and six assists in seven games, including a three-point performance in the gold medal game against the United States, where he scored the game-winning goal. [14]

Personal life

Iginla is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jarome Iginla and his wife Kara. His younger brother Joe plays for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings, and his older sister Jade plays for Brown University. [13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2021–22 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL 30114—————
2022–23 Seattle ThunderbirdsWHL48612181930112
2023–24 Kelowna Rockets WHL64473784351196150
WHL totals1155350103581497162

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2022 Canada Red U17 Silver medal icon.svg72570
2024 Canada U18 Gold medal icon.svg766120
Junior totals14811190

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
WHL
Ed Chynoweth Cup champion 2023 [4]
BC Division First Team All-Star 2024 [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarome Iginla</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1977)

Jarome Arthur Leigh Iginla is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He played over 1,500 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings between 1996 and 2017. He is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelowna Rockets</span> Western Hockey League team in Kelowna, British Columbia

The Kelowna Rockets are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The team plays in the B.C Division of the Western Hockey League's Western Conference, playing their home games at Prospera Place. The Rockets are the most successful WHL team in the twenty-first century, winning three regular season titles and four playoff championships. The team has also played in the Memorial Cup finals three times, winning once, in 2004, when Kelowna hosted the tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tacoma Rockets</span> Ice hockey team

The Tacoma Rockets were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1991 to 1995. They played at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. The Rockets were granted as an expansion franchise, and were named after the defunct professional team of the same name. After the 1994–95 season, low attendance forced the team to move to Kelowna, British Columbia after only four seasons, where they became the Kelowna Rockets. While the Rockets drew high attendance numbers when they played the Seattle Thunderbirds, they did not draw as well with other teams. The Tacoma Dome was not well-suited for hockey as the risers for the seats were too shallow, making the sightlines bad for hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game</span> Annual Canadian Hockey League event

The CHL/USA Prospects Challenge is an annual event in which forty of the top NHL Entry Draft eligible prospects in the Canadian Hockey League play against each other in an all-star game environment. Players are able to boost their draft ranking with the National Hockey League scouts and general managers attending. Each team is led by a celebrity coach, usually Don Cherry and Bobby Orr.

The 2002–03 WHL season was the 37th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Nineteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Kelowna Rockets won both the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league's best regular season team and the President's Cup as playoff champion, both for the first time. The Rockets thus earned a berth in the 2003 Memorial Cup tournament.

The 2008–09 WHL season was the 43rd season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The regular season began on September 18, 2008, and ended on March 15, 2009. The 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge series, featuring Team WHL versus the Russian Selects, took place mid-season from November 26 to 27, 2008. The Calgary Hitmen won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy with the best regular season record. The playoffs commenced on March 20, and concluded on May 9. The Kelowna Rockets won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions, defeating the Hitmen in the championship series and earning a berth at the 2009 Memorial Cup tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyson Barrie</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1991)

Tyson Barrie is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators. He was drafted by the Avalanche in the third round, 64th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison Bowey</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1995)

Madison Bowey is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the second round, 53rd overall, by the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, and won the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018. Bowey has also previously played for the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Merkley</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1997)

Nicholas Merkley is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing under contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Merkley was formerly rated as a top prospect who was widely projected to be a first-round selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. In the said Draft, he was selected 30th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, the final pick of the opening round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal Foote</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1998)

Callan Hayden Foote is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš of the Slovak Extraliga. He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Foote was selected 14th overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Foote won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2021.

Brad Lambert is a Finnish-Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 30th overall by the Jets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander True</span> Danish ice hockey player (born 1997)

Alexander True is a Danish professional ice hockey centre currently playing for MoDo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaiden Guhle</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 2002)

Kaiden Guhle is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Neighbours</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 2002)

Jake Neighbours is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Blues in the first round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft with the 26th overall pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kole Lind</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1998)

Kole Lind is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Ice hockey in Seattle, Washington, includes professional teams as early as 1915, such as the Seattle Metropolitans, the first United States–based team to win the Stanley Cup. The city has been represented by various teams in the iterations of the Western Hockey League (WHL) since 1944, of which the major junior Seattle Thunderbirds are the latest. Presently, the city has a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the Seattle Kraken, who began play in the 2021–22 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Guenther</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 2003)

Dylan Guenther is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Arizona Coyotes with the ninth overall pick in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Stankoven</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 2003)

Logan Stankoven is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 47th overall, by the Stars in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

Kevin Korchinski is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted seventh overall by the Blackhawks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryder Ritchie</span> Swedish-Canadian ice hockey player (born 2006)

Ryder Ritchie is a Swedish-Canadian junior ice hockey forward for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was selected in the second round, 45th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2024 NHL entry draft.

References

  1. 1 2 Clark, Ryan S. (June 25, 2024). "How Tij Iginla's NHL draft journey could see him possibly make history". ESPN . Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ Gould, Mike. "WATCH: Tij Iginla scores first WHL goal with Seattle Thunderbirds". flamesnation.ca. Flames Nation. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ Montrose, Brett (October 9, 2023). "Tij Iginla: Could the Calgary Flames actually draft Jarome's son?". flameforthought.com. Fansided. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Potenteau, Dave (June 7, 2023). "Kelowna Rockets swing trade deal with Seattle Thunderbirds for Tij Iginla". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ Kierszenblat, Adam (October 26, 2023). "Tij Iginla, Terik Parascak Lead WHL's Hot-Starting 2024 NHL Draft Class". The Hockey News . Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ Potenteau, David (December 19, 2023). "Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla to play in CHL Top Prospects Game". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ Kimelman, Adam (December 19, 2023). "Iginla leads list of 40 players selected for 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ Pereira, Kyle (April 21, 2024). "Tij Iginla is authoring his own legacy as 2024 draft nears". nhlentrydraft.com. FCHockey. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Tij Iginla named Tempo WHL Player of the Week". Canadian Hockey League. April 9, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Canada adds Tij Iginla, son of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, to U18 squad". Sportsnet . April 23, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  11. ↑ Fox, Luke (June 28, 2024). "'I kind of blacked out': Like Jarome, Tij Iginla makes Utah history". Sportsnet . Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Utah Hockey Club Signs Forward Tij Iginla to Entry-Level Contract | Utah Hockey Club". www.nhl.com. July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Morreale, Mike G. (December 15, 2023). "2024 NHL Draft notebook: Iginla follows father's path". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ Aykroyd, Lucas (May 4, 2024). "McKenna sparks Canada to gold". IIHF.com. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ Bednorz, Paige (March 26, 2024). "Iginla, Cristall, Price earn 2023-24 BC Division All-Star honours". Canadian Hockey League . Kelowna Rockets . Retrieved June 8, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
None
 Utah Hockey Club first round draft pick
2024 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.