Tij Iginla Inks Deal with Utah Hockey ClubTij Iginla Inks Deal with Utah Hockey Club Tij Iginla, the son of Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, has signed a three-year contract with the Utah Hockey Club, making him the first draft pick in the team’s history. Iginla, 17, was selected sixth overall by Utah in the recent NHL draft. The terms of his contract were not disclosed. “It was really cool to hear a big cheer when my name was called,” said Iginla at Utah’s development camp. “I think the fans have been so welcoming to the hockey club and to me.” Iginla recorded 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games for the Kelowna Rockets last season. He also helped Canada win the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. “We’ve got a lot of 20-goal scorers on our roster, we’re looking for a 50-goal scorer. No pressure,” said Utah general manager Bill Armstrong. “We really like him, not only as a person but as a player.” Iginla is expected to play at least one more season with Kelowna to develop as a center. He is working with his father this summer to improve his all-around game. “He’s been so important to my development,” said Tij. “The focus is on continuing to improve all parts of my game.” Utah will join the NHL in the 2025-26 season, and Iginla is excited to be a part of the team’s future. “It looks like we’re going to have some of the best fans in the league going forward, and that should be a lot of fun,” he said.
June 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tij Iginla is selected along with his father and NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla with the 6th overall pick of the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft by the Utah Hockey Club at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Tij Iginla signed a three-year contract with the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday, which made the Canadian forward the first draft pick in franchise history during last month’s NHL draft.
Iginla, 17, was the No. 6 overall pick by Utah, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“It was really cool to hear a big cheer when my name was called,” Iginla said Tuesday at Utah’s development camp. “I think the fans have been so welcoming to the hockey club and to me. It looks like we’re going to have some of the best fans in the league going forward, and that should be a lot of fun.”
Iginla, whose father is Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, had 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games last season for the Kelowna Rockets, a major junior team from British Columbia.
The younger Iginla also scored six goals and added six assists in seven games while helping Canada win the gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
“I told him when I met him, I said, ‘We’ve got a lot of 20-goal scorers on our roster, we’re looking for a 50-goal scorer. No pressure,’” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said last month. “We really like him, not only as a person but as a player. He’s everything we want.”
Iginla is expected to play at least one more season with Kelowna, focusing on his role as a full-time centre after playing as a left winger and midfielder last season.
This summer, young Iginla is working with his famous father to improve his all-round game.
“He’s been so important to my development,” Tij said Tuesday. “It’s going to be good to be back home and continue to work with him on all the parts of my game, and then I have my brother and sister, so we’re going to be on the ice a lot and just working on what we have that day.
“The focus is on continuing to improve all parts of my game. Just have a good summer and go into next season, whatever it is, and just keep trying to improve my game as much as possible.”
–Field Level Media
