Rockets’ Iginla gearing up for NHL training camp

Less is more.

Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla was careful with his words during the 2023-2024 season as NHL scouts dissected his every move, both on and off the ice. The pride of Lake Country, BC was so impressive in letting his play do the talking that the Utah Hockey Club selected him sixth overall when the draft was held at Sphere in Las Vegas.

With the draft in June now in his rearview mirror, the 18-year-old is significantly more well-spoken. It has allowed the general public to better understand how driven the teenager is to play pro hockey.

“There may be a lot of pressure, but being selected by Utah is less than it would have been in Calgary,” Iginla told RocketFAN about visiting Salt Lake City for the first time in early July for the teams summer developmental camp.

It was suggested prior to the draft that Iginla would slot in as the ninth overall pick, a position the Flames held after missing the playoffs in 2023-2024. With Iginla’s father, Jarome, being a former star in Calgary, it only seemed fitting that his son would also play with an organization that his father starred with for 16 seasons. Utah had other ideas though, plucking Tij off the board, three picks before the Flames had a chance to choose a prospect to build for the future.

“I hope I am a better player,” Iginla added when asked about how he continues to improve his game since the Kelowna Rockets were eliminated in the second-round of the WHL playoffs by the Prince George Cougars last spring. “What do they say? If you aren’t getting better you are getting worse.”

Last season, Iginla scored a team high 47 times, and was one of eight players in the Western Hockey League with 45 or more goals. He also was fifth in the league in shots on goal, firing the puck on net a whopping 319 times.

After being drafted, Iginla participated in Hockey Canada’s Summer Evaluation camp in Calgary, and is now looking at getting an invite in December in a bid to play for his country at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa.

“I have been working hard over the summer, trying to improve so many areas of my game,” Iginla added. “I have been working on strength and power. I have put on weight. I have worked on stickhandling and shooting. Even hockey sense you can work on.”

The Arizona Coyotes, who relocated to the state of Utah in April, won only 36 times last season, which was the seventh worst record of the 32 teams in the National Hockey League. Missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, and for the 11th time in 12 season, has the franchise in a total rebuild with Iginla looked upon as the next great hope in getting the team back to respectability.

“It is hard to say,” when asked by RocketFAN about how close he believes he is to being NHL ready. “I will know more when I get out there with those guys at rookie camp and training camp. I think I am developing and getting better in lots of areas as quickly as I can. It will be fun to see where I am at with those guys real soon.”

The Utah Hockey Club open the NHL pre-season September 22nd, against the St. Louis Blues before hosting the LA Kings the next night in its first home game at the Delta Center. The teams home opener is October 8th against Chicago.

“I hope to get in there for sure,” Iginla said about suiting up for a few NHL pre-season games.

“I am excited to go out there and see what I can do.”

by Regan Bartel

Rockets’ Iginla gearing up for NHL training camp

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