2024 NHL Draft eligible centre Iginla named Tempo WHL Player of the Week
Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today Tij Iginla of the Kelowna Rockets has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week for the week ending December 17, 2023.
The 2024 NHL Draft-eligible centre contributed to all three game-winning goals as the Rockets went 3-1-0-0 on the week to close out a seven-game road trip.
Iginla picked up assists on both Kelowna goals in a 2-1 victory over Moose Jaw to start the week. He battled in front of the Warriors net to get the puck on the stick of Andrew Cristall for the opening tally and had the secondary assist on the game-winner to leave the Friendly City with two points in hand.
The following night, Iginla got the Rockets on the board with a wraparound effort against the Wheat Kings. He’d add another helped, but Brandon would dish Kelowna its lone loss of the week, 6-3.
Iginla would set up two more goals in a tight-checking match against the Raiders, but his shining moment came as the clock ticked down to the final seconds of regular time. Iginla battled for the puck behind the Prince Albert net and hammered away at the Raider’s goaltender, eventually pouncing on the loose puck in the five-hole and poking it home for the win with 20 seconds remaining. Iginla was named second star for his efforts.
The Rockets rode that high into the pre-holiday finale, coming from behind to defeat the powerhouse Saskatoon Blades in overtime. Cristall stole the puck on the penalty kill and set up Iginla for a slick shorthanded tally. The son of Hockey Hall-of-Famer Jarome Iginla wrapped up the road trip with another assist on the overtime winner. The Rockets went 5-2-0-0 on the lengthy road schedule.
Iginla is currently tearing it up on a six-game point streak that’s seen him net six goals and 12 assists.
He leads his team and sits sixth in the league with 25 goals in 32 games. His 42 points is second only to Andrew Cristall in the Rockets points race.
The Lake Country, B.C. product is eligible for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, Nev. In June. The Central Scouting Service rated Iginla as a ‘B’ prospect in October, projecting him to be drafted in the second or third round.
The Rockets (15-15-2-0) sit third in the B.C. Division and have earned points in seven of their past 10 games.
Kelowna returns to the road after the holiday break for a divisional matchup against the Kamloops Blazers on December 27 at 7:00 p.m. PST.
2023-24 Tempo WHL Player of the Week
December 11, 2023: Dominik Rymon, Everett Silvertips
December 4, 2023: Conor Geekie, Wenatchee Wild (Arizona Coyotes)
November 27, 2023: Andrew Basha, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 20, 2023: Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George Cougars (Los Angeles Kings)
November 13, 2023: Gabe Klassen, Portland Winterhawks
November 6, 2023: Trevor Wong, Saskatoon Blades
October 30, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
October 23, 2023: Andrew Cristall, Kelowna Rockets (Washington Capitals)
October 16, 2023: Ryder Ritchie, Prince Albert Raiders
October 10, 2023: Easton Armstrong, Wenatchee Wild
October 2, 2023: Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw Warriors (Seattle Kraken)
September 25, 2023: Zac Funk, Prince George Cougars
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.
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