Iggy Pop

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Sending a first and second-round WHL prospect pick to the T-Birds was the asking price, which only made sense considering the 17-year-old was chosen ninth overall in the 2021 draft, where the Rockets watched agonizingly from the sidelines, finally getting a chance to pluck a player off the board (Gabriel Guilbault) at #61.

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While Iginla wasn’t a sure bet to succeed at the time of the deal, after putting up just six goals in limited duty with the defending WHL champs, the bloodlines of a driven player were evident with father Jarome making sure that above all else, skating, shooting, and competing were all priority number one. It appears, according to the eye test, none of those three elements took precedence over the other.

What we’ve witnessed in the opening five weeks of the season is sensational, with goals in eight of 11 games. Maybe the lack of attention he received from several scouting services heading into his sophomore campaign is a driving force on why the Lake Country product has an eye-popping 12 goals, which is three off the league lead?

Whatever has his motor running, ‘Iggy’, as he is known by his teammates is providing instant offense.

“Tij is a great skater and has a strong stick to break up plays,” Head Coach Kris Mallette speaking glowingly about his dynamic young forward. “When he was in Seattle, he was buried in a team that was extremely deep. I’ve had multiple scouts ask me about him with his hot start. Remember, this is a guy that was probably averaging eight minutes a night, and now he is playing anywhere between 19 or 20 plus [minutes]. To say he is a big part of our team would be an understatement.”

With a record of 6-4-1-0, the Rockets are off to a better start than a year ago, despite not being able to ice a complete lineup with third year forward Marcus Pacheco yet to dress for a game after being hurt in pre-season.

“You never know what is going to happen from day to day,” Mallette added. “Based on the players we have and the knowledge of who they are and what they bring to the table, I like what we’ve got in the room, I really do.

“Our back end has some veteran presence on it, all be it, there is some youth on there as well. I think Jari [Kykkanen] has an ability to be a prominent goalie in this league. Up front, I really like the look of three lines. They all play a contributing factor, and if that fourth line provides energy, and can play even or better [+/-] I think we match up well.”

Iginla’s scoring prowess can’t be maintained, can it? Realistically, slumps will happen, the checking will get harder as teams key on him specifically, and the goaltenders will figure him out.

But the early returns to acquire a difference maker are impressive, and it seems like a guarantee a lethal goal scorer number 11 will be.