Rockets forwards Iginla, Gojsic and Graham selected at 2024 NHL Draft
Kelowna Rockets forwards Tij Iginla, Hiroki Gojsic and Max Graham were picked at the 2024 NHL Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas, NV.
The trio become the 74th, 75th and 76th Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets to have their names called out at the NHL, it’s the first time since 2019 where three players were picked in the same draft. To view the full list of Rockets drafted into the NHL click here.
Utah Hockey Club made history on Friday night, using their first ever NHL Draft pick in franchise history to select Iginla sixth overall at the Sphere in Las Vegas, NV.
Iginla becomes the second highest Rocket to be drafted into the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked Luke Schenn fifth overall in 2008. He’s the 11th Rocket and first since 2019 to hear their name called during the first round.
Iginla was ranked No. 9 among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings heading into the Draft. He was named to the Western Hockey League’s 2023-24 B.C. Division First All-Star Team at the end of the regular-season. The Kelowna Rockets 2024 MVP award winner finished second in scoring among all Rockets with 84 points (47G-37A) in 62 games. His 47 goals were tied for sixth among all WHL skaters.
Gojsic didn’t have to wait long on Saturday morning, going 94th overall to the Nashville Predators in the third round.
On Central Scouting’s final rankings, Gojsic climbed 31 spots from the mid-term rankings to 63 among North American skaters. He was named the Rockets rookie of the year after leading the team’s first year players in scoring and finished eighth among first year skaters in the WHL with 50 points (21G, 29A) through 68 games.
It marks the fourth time the Predators have picked a Rocket with Shea Weber (2003), Colton Sissons (2012) and Justin Kirkland (2014) all drafted out of Kelowna by Nashville.
In the fifth round, 2004-born Graham was picked by the New Jersey Devils after going undrafted in the previous two drafts, he was selected 139th overall in the fifth round. Previously he was ranked no. 156 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting on their Final Rankings for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, but was not ranked for the previous two years.
Graham led the Western Hockey League in penalty minutes this past season with 135, he finished sixth in team scoring with 42 points (20G, 22A) through 67 games.
He’s the fourth Rocket to be picked by the Devils, joining Myles Bell (2013), Damon Severson (2012) and Scott Parker (1996).
The Rockets roster now features five NHL Drafted players, with Andrew Cristall (Washington) and Caden Price (Seattle) both picked at last year’s NHL Draft.
Season tickets for the Rockets 2024-25 season are now on sale. To learn more about becoming a season ticket holder, please click here.
