Top 2024 NHL Draft prospect Iginla joins Team Canada for 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship

Calgary, Alta.- Kelowna Rockets star Tij Iginla will round out Canada’s 25-man roster for the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Tuesday.

The tournament begins on Thursday, April 25, and wraps up with the medal games on Sunday, May 5 in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.

Iginla has previously represented Team Canada Red at the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge, where he tallied two goals and five assists in seven games en route to a silver medal.

The Lake Country, B.C. product is fresh off a breakout season with the Kelowna Rockets that saw his draft stock skyrocket.

Iginla racked up 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points in 64 games in his second full WHL season, finishing seventh in the league in goals.

He added another nine goals- including a hat trick- and six assists in 11 postseason contests.

The 6-foot, 186-pound centre has been ranked ninth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting in the agency’s final rankings ahead of June’s NHL Entry Draft.

Iginla is also the ninth WHL player to be named to Team Canada ahead of the U18 World Championship, joining Ollie Josephson (Red Deer), Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat), Roger McQueen (Brandon), Ryder Ritchie (Prince Albert), Carson Wetsch (Calgary), Harrison Brunicke (Kamloops), Reese Hamilton (Calgary) and Charlie Elick (Brandon).

Canada will take on Norway in its final pre-tournament match on Tuesday, April 23 in Vantaa, Finland.

The team will kick off the tournament with its first preliminary-round game against Sweden on Thursday, April 25 at 10:00 a.m. MST.

Canada will face Czechia on April 26, Switzerland on April 28, and close out preliminary-round action against Kazakhstan on April 30.

The semifinals are set for May 4 with the medal games to follow on May 5.

Since 2002, Canada has captured four gold medals at the IIHF U18 World Championship (2003, 2008, 2013, 2021), as well as a silver medal (2005) and four bronze (2012, 2014, 2015, 2023).