Tij Iginla: Establishing himself as Mr. Clutch
Written by Paige Bednorz
Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla couldn’t ask for much more heading into the holiday break. The 17-year-old was named the Western Hockey League’s Player of the Week on Monday, and on Tuesday was announced he was invited to compete in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds in June, Iginla quickly jelled with the Rockets posting four points in four preseason games. He recorded Kelowna’s first goal of the regular season against the Portland Winterhawks on September 23.
“For me, I think it was a nice transition,” said Iginla in an interview on Tuesday with kelownarockets.com. “I knew some of the guys beforehand. The management, coaches and players made it really easy on me welcoming me in and making me a part of the group quickly.”
Iginla has established himself as a threat whenever the puck is on his blade. Last season he recorded six goals and 18 points in 48 games as a 16-year-old rookie, playing a bottom-six role with the WHL Champion Thunderbirds. This season he surpassed those totals in a snap, having posted a team-high 25 goals and sits second in points with 42 through 32 games.
As of today, he’s on pace for 53 goals. No Rocket has hit 50 goals in a regular season since the 2005-2006 season, where Justin Keller had 51 goals and 88 points over 72 games.
“Last year I didn’t get to play as much. I still felt like I could be effective when I was out there, but I didn’t quite get the chance to show it as much as I have this year. I’m just super grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve had.”
In his fifth game of the season on October 7 against Spokane, Iginla recorded his first WHL hat-trick as well as an assist. When asked if he felt like that was his best game as a Rocket so far he touched on a few others, as well as the teams’ recent effort.
“That game would be up there, it’s hard to beat three goals and an assist. I had two goals and two assists against Vancouver early in the year [Oct. 21], probably a good game. I felt like I played pretty well on the eastern swing and so did the team, we were able to come out 4-1. That’s good for us to get up to .500 before the break.”
After his hot start of 22 points in the first 12 games, Iginla faced adversity when he was held pointless in six straight games between October 27 and November 10.
“That was a bit of a tough stretch for sure. You’ve gotta keep working, I guess probably work a little harder, and figure out what you were doing before. I just worked as hard as I could through that time and hoped that the next one was going in.”
He ended the point drought by going on a four-game point streak, recording five goals and an assist over that span. Since November 13, Iginla has only been held off of the score sheet twice in the last 14 games.
Prior to the east division road trip, the team had only won two road games and owned a record of 11-14-2-0.
Iginla stepped up his game, with him and the Rockets finding success, going 4-1 on the trip.
In the opening game against Regina on December 9, Iginla recorded a pair of goals including the game-winner in the 5-4 victory over the Pats. He then picked up assists on both Kelowna goals in a 2-1 victory over Moose Jaw on December 12. The following night Iginla got the Rockets on the board and added an assist in Kelowna’s lone loss of the trip, falling 6-3 to Brandon.
On December 15 the Rockets bounced back with a 4-3 win over Prince Albert, with Iginla recording a pair of assists and the game-winner in the dying seconds of regulation. In their final game before the holiday break, the Rockets shocked the WHL’s leading team with a 5-4 overtime win with Iginla recording a shorthanded goal and an assist on Gabriel Szturc’s game-winner over the Saskatoon Blades.
After dropping nine straight games in November and falling to the bottom of the standings, Iginla said that it was good for the team to hit their stride before heading into the break.
“I think it was about time that we came together. Maybe before, earlier in the year, we were a better team than what we were playing. On the road trip, we just came together playing as a team and finding ways to win games. Even if they were close ones, just battling and building some momentum and keeping it going late into the game.”
While on the trip Andrew Cristall and Iginla were reunited with the pair finding success in Moose Jaw as Iginla set up Cristall’s game-winner and connecting again for a short-handed tally in Saskatoon.
“I love playing with him [Cristall], every time I can get on the ice with him I try to get open because I know he’ll find me. He’s a spectacular player, super smart, super competitive and definitely makes a huge difference for our team.”
Shorthanded goals are fun when they're scored on the other team.
Tij Iginla x #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/XdDrtlddj0
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 17, 2023
It was a busy weekend for the Iginla family last weekend. As Tij was ripping it up on the prairies, his younger brother, Joe, made his WHL debut with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The youngest of the three Iginla children, 2008-born Joe was drafted 12th overall by the Oil Kings at the WHL Prospects Draft earlier this spring.
“I texted him once, he didn’t really try to pick my brains much. I guess he didn’t need to, he got an assist in his first one against Swift and a big goal in the second one there against Regina.”
While it only took Joe two games to find the back of the net in the Western Hockey League, it took Tij eight.
“He has the bragging rights, he got it faster than me in games but it might be the same amount of minutes,” said Iginla with a chuckle.
With Tij back at home this season the two have been able to live together again as Joe plays at RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna on their U18 team. Iginla said that he’s soaking up the opportunity to live with him, as well as his parents.
“It’s awesome, my mom, dad and I are all together this season. I’m super grateful to be back with them while getting my dad’s tips and hanging out with my brother.”
Joe, who is only 15, can play in five WHL games as an affiliate player before his U18 team’s season has come to an end. Having appeared in two games already, he could play in three more.
With the Oil Kings on their BC Division trip out of the break, Tij has one wish, for Joe to be called up to play when Edmonton visits Prospea Place on January 5.
As the Rockets enjoy their holiday break, Iginla is already thinking about what’s next for Kelowna coming out of the break.
“My goal for the second half is to just keep getting better and growing as a player, adding the things that scouts want to see. To try to help my team win as many games as we can and get a good situation going for the playoffs, keep rolling what we had off of those last few games there in the east trip.”
Iginla and the Rockets will be back in action at Prospera Place on December 29 against Kamloops and on December 30 against Calgary. Single-game tickets for all home games are on sale at www.selectyourtickets.com.
