Utah Mammoth prospect Iginla named Tempo WHL Player of the Week, Fuelled by Co-op

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 Week for the week ending Sunday, February 1.

Iginla, an 18-year-old product of Lake Country, B.C., registered nine points (4G-5A) and a plus-6 rating in three games, as the Rockets went 3-0-0-0 this past week.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centre started the week with two points (1G-1A) Tuesday, January 27, as the Rockets cruised past the Red Deer Rebels by a 5-3 score. Iginla hit the score sheet with an assist on a shorthanded effort from Los Angeles Kings prospect Vojtech Cihar as the Rockets took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Early in the second period, the veteran scorer made good on a power play as he tallied his 20th goal of the campaign to give Kelowna a commanding 4-1 lead. That goal went on to stand as the game winner and Iginla was named third star of the night.

Friday, January 30, Iginla notched another assist as the Rockets doubled up the Prince George Cougars by a 4-2 margin. Late in the second period with Kelowna trailing 2-1, Iginla set up Vancouver Canucks prospect Parker Alcos to tie the game 2-2 heading into the second intermission.

Iginla saved his best for last, racking up a career-high six points (3G-3A) Saturday, January 31, in a 9-2 trouncing of the Vancouver Giants. During the first period, Iginla registered the primary assist on a goal from Ty Halaburda, tying the game 1-1. A mere eight seconds into the second period, Iginla found the back of the net for his 21st goal of the season to give Kelowna its first lead of the night and sparking a six-goal middle period for the visiting Rockets. Next up, Iginla tallied the primary assist on a power-play goal from New York Islanders prospect Tomas Poletin, giving Kelowna a 4-1 lead. After recording his 22nd goal of the season in the second period, Iginla completed the hat trick 7:17 into the third period, putting the Rockets in front 8-2. He rounded out his offensive explosion with another primary helper on a goal from San Jose Sharks prospect Carson Wetsch. Unsurprisingly, Iginla was named first star of the night.

With 47 points (23G-24A) in 27 games, Iginla ranks third in scoring on the Rockets, while his 1.74 points per game is best among all WHL skaters. With another strong showing this past week, Iginla has extended his point-scoring streak to 10 games, having recorded 20 points (10G-10A) dating back to Wednesday, January 7. His 10-game point-scoring streak registers as the second longest active streak in the WHL, trailing 2026 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Carson Carels of the Prince George Cougars, who has secured 18 points (7G-11A) in 12 games.

Originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Iginla is in his third season with the Rockets. In 163 career WHL regular season games, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla has tallied 182 points (90G-92A). Prior to being acquired by the Rockets, Iginla won a WHL Championship in 2023 as a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

With a record of 25-16-4-2, the Rockets rank fourth in the WHL’s Western Conference and third in the B.C. Division.

Next up, Iginla and the Rockets host the Portland Winterhawks (22-23-4-0) Tuesday, February 3 (7:05 p.m. PT) as Prospera Place in Kelowna. Catch all the action for FREE on Victory+.

Tempo WHL Player of the Week

September 22, 2025: Ethan Semeniuk, Moose Jaw Warriors
September 29, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
October 6, 2025: Matias Vanhanen, Everett Silvertips
October 14, 2025: Noah Kosick, Swift Current Broncos
October 20, 2025: Kooper Gizowski, Prince George Cougars
October 27, 2025: Caden Brown, Regina Pats
November 3, 2025: Max Curran, Edmonton Oil Kings
November 10, 2025: Luke Mistelbacher, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 17, 2025: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
November 24, 2025: JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers
December 1, 2025: Tarin Smith, Everett Silvertips
December 8, 2025: Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 15, 2025: Joby Baumuller, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 22, 2025: Mathis Preston, Spokane Chiefs
December 29, 2025: Jonas Woo, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 5, 2026: Lukas Sawchyn, Edmonton Oil Kings
January 12, 2026: Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers
January 19, 2026: Daxon Rudolph, Prince Albert Raiders
January 26, 2026: Brandon Gorzynski, Prince Albert Raiders

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.