Oil Kings forward Iginla named WHL Rookie of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Edmonton Oil Kings forward Joe Iginla has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, December 29, 2024, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

Iginla stunned the competition with three goals and an assist in two games, highlighted by his first WHL hat trick.

The 16-year-old earned a primary helper in Edmonton’s 5-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels on December 27. With the Oil Kings leading 3-1 in the third period in Red Deer, Iginla faked out the goaltender after picking up a rebound in tight and fed wide-open fellow rookie Kayden Stroeder for a tap-in goal and 4-1 lead on the road.

Iginla saved his best for the home crowd as the set shifted north to Rogers Place in Edmonton the next night. The 5-foot-10, 166-pound winger capped off a wild first period by shoveling a backhand goal past Minnesota Wild prospect Chase Wutzke on the powerplay. He took the game into blowout territory in the second period by driving the net to tuck a Luke Powell rebound home for his second of the night and first WHL multi-goal game. But the milestones weren’t finished. With less than two minutes left in the game, Iginla pounced on a loose puck in the slot, wheeled around and whipped a shot five hole to complete the hat trick. He makes history as the youngest player in Oil Kings history to record a hat trick at 16 years and 139 days. Iginla joins Oil Kings Captain Gavin Hodnett and current Utah Hockey Club star Dylan Guenther as the only 16-year-olds to net a hat trick for the Oil Kings.

What can we say? It runs in the family 🤷‍♂️@EdmOilKings | #WHLHatTricks pic.twitter.com/0OCCX7ff7I

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 30, 2024

Iginla has seven goals and two assists for nine points in 26 games in his first full season with Edmonton.

The Lake Country, B.C. product was selected 12th overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft and picked up three goals and two assists in five call-up appearances in 2023-24.

Iginla, who is eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, also earned a silver medal with Canada Red at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge in November, adding two goals and one assist in four games at the tournament.

Edmonton (18-3-1-1) has wins in seven of its last 10 games to keep pace in the logjammed Eastern Conference.

They host the Central Division rival Calgary Hitmen (18-10-3-1) for a New Year’s Day tilt at 2:00 p.m. PST at Rogers Place.

2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
October 7, 2024: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
October 15, 2024: Josh Banini, Moose Jaw Warriors
October 21, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
October 28, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 4, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
November 11, 2024: Ondrej Stebetak, Portland Winterhawks
November 18, 2024: Kason Kobelka, Calgary Hitmen
November 25, 2024: Jordan Duguay, Portland Winterhawks
December 2, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 9, 2024: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 16, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
December 23, 2024: Parker Rondeau, Swift Current Broncos

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 offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 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 close to 60 years. The WHL is also a 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.

-30-