Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor
Iginla: Quietly going about his business
Things that make me go hmm…
Oct 11, 2023 | 8:00 AM
- I can’t believe the lack of love Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla is getting from those ‘in the know’ when looking at the top players eligible for the 2024 NHL draft. Not even a mention. I don’t expect the 17-year-old to be a top-10 pick, but to classify him as a late selection can’t be accurate. Even if NHL Central Scouting puts out its first ‘Players to Watch List’, classifying him as a ‘C’ prospect, it would be doing the Lake Country, BC product a disservice. It is like thinking Cheryl Tiegs was just average in her prime. Iginla is an elite skater, which is always the number one complaint when scouts pick apart a prospect. Iginla can improve his stride, but foot speed isn’t an issue in the least bit. Neither is a quick, accurate shot, which has found the back of the net seven times, already surpassing the six he scored a season ago in Seattle. I am intrigued to see Iginla’s progression this season, but more so how scouts evaluate him after more viewings.
- Overage cutdown day is never easy. It is a veteran who was just good enough to earn a spot on the roster as a 19-year-old, but just isn’t enough of a difference-maker to earn one of the three crucial positions in his last year of eligibility. Ideally, a team likes to trade these players so they can stay in the league, but many have to go play at a lower level to end their time in junior hockey. It isn’t easy for all involved, including the teammates left behind who are able to stay, while watching someone getting cut for the first time in their hockey career.
- We had to ask head coach Kris Mallette about the 20-year-old situation with his team with the return of captain Gabriel Szturc for his overage season. “On the backend, it is safe to say Jackson DeSouza is going to be in the lineup because of the youth we have back there,” Mallette said. “It is a difficult decision for us that doesn’t come lightly, but they both [McMillen/Wightman] know where they stand and what they can control. Be a good teammate and work extremely hard.”
- Is Prince George Cougars rookie forward Terik Parasak a flash in the pan? In my view, I don’t think so. He shoots the puck too much and is around it too often not to be an impactful player. Plus, GM/Head Coach Mark Lamb doesn’t bury him on the fourth line. Will he be able to set the WHL rookie record of 145 points set by Peter Nedved of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 1989-90 season? His current pace isn’t sustainable, but RocketFAN used our calculator and came to the conclusion the 17-year-old is on pace to score 90 goals. No matter which way you cut it, Parasak is a great story in this young season.
- After no less than four seasons in the minors, former Kelowna Rockets d-man Lucas Johansen has made the Washington Capitals opening day roster. Winning a Calder Cup with the AHL’s Hersey Bears is all well and good, but at 25, the former first-round pick of the Capitals was getting dangerously close to being passed by on the depth chart. Over the last few seasons, the former 6th-round WHL prospect draft pick of the Rockets from 2012 has just three NHL games under his belt.
- I will remember the 2012 WHL Bantam draft for one reason. The Everett Silvertips picked American Austin Matthews in the third round. Now in his 9th season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and one goal shy of 300 for his career, Matthews never played a game in the WHL.
- If you want to cheer for an NHL team with a solid contingent of Kelowna Rockets alumni, look no further then the Nashville Predators. Luke Schenn, Tyson Barrie and Colton Sissons are all teammates in the Music City. Don’t forget the Calgary Flames either with Ryan Huska as head coach, Dan Lambert as his assistant and Dillon Dube playing his 6th season in Cowtown.
- Easton Armstrong is named the WHL Player of the Week and then is promptly dealt the same day to the Saskatoon Blades for draft picks. When Armstrong is old and gray, he will have a laughable story to tell his grandchildren.
- I have never been fond of WHL head coaches who also hold the position of general manager. In more cases than not, in an effort to save themselves from dismissal, they are willing to trade to bolster the roster but are extremely hesitant in selling off for the good of the franchise down the road.
- Keep this a secret between you and me. Don’t tell the Wenatchee Wild or their fans that three games in three nights isn’t a staple in the Western Hockey League. Oh sure, it happens occasionally, but isn’t commonplace. The Wild, who just moved to the Western Conference after being bought and sold from Winnipeg, have already played three games in three nights – twice! A quick look at their schedule shows they play 3 in 3 a whopping six times this season.
- I still haven’t found the answer to why James Patrick wasn’t offered the head coach job with the Wild, despite relocation. Was Patrick dragging his heels with new ownership, once the door closed on moving the team to Washington State? Patrick wanted to stay in the game and took a director of player development role with the Victoria Royals. In hindsight, after Kevin Constantine’s dismissal, giving Patrick time to explore other opportunities over the summer may have been the best decision before bringing him back to guide the team he took to the WHL final a season ago.
- After further research, Scott Hannan indeed was named the Kelowna Rockets defenceman of the year on three separate occasions. You would think Caden Price, when health, after winning the award a season ago, does have a tremendous chance to win it again as an 18 and 19-year-old defender.
- What ever happened to Madison Bowey? The former Kelowna Rockets captain on the 2015 WHL championship team has taken his career overseas to the KHL. Bowey, now 28, played last season in the AHL with the Montreal Rocket.
- The 16 goals scored in the Rockets 9-7 loss Monday afternoon to the Victoria Royals is the most goals combined the two have put up since the Royals came into the league for the start of the 2011-2012 season. In case you are wondering, the Rockets gave up 9 goals last season in a 9-2 home-ice loss to Prince George last March.
- The Rockets have never used two-16 year-old goalies in the same game, up until this week. Jake Pilon, who turns 17 tomorrow, started Monday’s game before giving way to 16-year-old backup Nathan Kam.
- I appreciate the French commercials on the WHL website as I wait patiently to watch game highlites from across the league. My grade 7 understanding of the language is limited at best.
- At 1,161 words, it is time to shut down the mill. I will have more observations for you next Wednesday.
WE NEED…..More broadcasting of the game, and less COMMECIALS !!. much rather listen to what Regan and others have to say about the game, rather than having commercials cutting in all the time !! I pay to watch hockey not listen too commercials !! 🙁
I have heard this is an issue on the webcasts. Commercials are overriding the game on stoppages. The webcasts are a club-controlled entity and not the radio stations.