Mammoth prospect Iginla named Tempo WHL Player of the Month for November

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Utah Mammoth prospect and Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Month for November.

Iginla, a 19-year-old product of Lake Country, B.C., recorded 23 points (11G-13A) and a plus-9 rating in 13 games during the month of the November, helping the 2026 Memorial Cup host Rockets go 8-3-2-0.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Iginla returned to the Rockets October 15 after an extended stay with the NHL’s Utah Mammoth. Selected by the Mammoth in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Iginla has registered 27 points (13G-14A) in 15 games since rejoining the Rockets. His 1.80 points per game ranks second among all WHL skaters this season, trailing only Brandon Wheat Kings forward Jaxon Jacobson (1.81 points per game).

Iginla’s impressive November featured nine multi-point games. Of the veteran forwards 13 games, he was only held off the scoresheet once (November 21 versus Everett).

On November 5, Iginla enjoyed a first-star performance as he tallied three points (2G-1A) in a 6-2 win for the Rockets over their Okanagan rivals – Penticton Vees. After opening the scoring 59 seconds into the first period, Iginla added a shorthanded marker late in the third period. He also contributed an assist on an early third period strike from San Jose Sharks prospect Carson Wetsch, which went on to stand as the game-winning tally.

Iginla’s second three-point effort (1G-2A) of the month came November 15, as the Rockets trounced the Spokane Chiefs by a 7-1 margin. Iginla began the night by scoring his 11th goal of the season 16:31 into the first period, giving the Rockets a 2-0 lead. That goal went on to stand as the game-winner in the contest. Iginla then added primary assists on a pair of second period strikes from Nashville Predators prospect Hiroki Gojsic.

On November 26, Iginla enjoyed another first-star outing when he tallied three points (1G-2A) in a decisive 6-1 victory over the Spokane Chiefs. The star Mammoth prospect gathered the only assist on a second period marker from Nate Corbert, which push Kelowna out front by a 3-1 score. Later in the period, he grabbed a secondary assist on a goal by Wetsch to make it 4-1. Early in the third period, Iginla registered a power-play goal to make it a 5-1 game, rounding out his scoring for the evening.

Aside from November 5 at Penticton, Iginla secured two other multi-goal games during the month of November, including November 7 in a 4-2 loss at Victoria and November 8 in a 6-3 win at Victoria. He was named first star of the game in Kelowna’s 6-3 triumph.

Iginla leads the Rockets in scoring with 27 points – three points ahead of Tomas Poletin and Carson Wetsch. With 13 goals, Iginla ranks second on the Rockets, trailing Poletin’s team-leading 14 goals.

Over the summer, Iginla was invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase, but was unable to participate as he recovered from hip surgery. He is expected to contend for a spot on the roster for Canada’s National Junior Team as it seeks to bring home gold from the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.

The Rockets acquired Iginla from the Seattle Thunderbirds on June 7, 2023, sending a 2024 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, and Grady Lenton to the Pacific Northwest.

Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Iginla won a WHL Championship in 2023 at the age of 16 as a member of the Thunderbirds. Since landing in Kelowna, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla has notched 143 points (74G-69A) in 100 regular season games. Over 151 career WHL regular season games split between Kelowna and Seattle, Iginla has 162 points (80G-82A) to his credit.

Through the month of November, Iginla and the Rockets are 12-8-3-1, sitting third in the WHL’s B.C. Division and fifth in the Western Conference.

Next up, Iginla and the Rockets host the B.C. Division leading Prince George Cougars (17-8-0-0) on Wednesday, December 3 (7:05 p.m. PT) at Prospera Place.

Tickets for the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota in Kelowna, B.C., are available now. For more information, visit CHL.ca/memorialcup.

Tempo WHL Player of the Month

September / October: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.