(Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

By Regan Bartel

1st round NHL draft pick named MVP

Twice the charm for Tij Iginla

Mar 25, 2026 | 6:01 AM

Move over, Jason Deleurme. You have company.

Tij Iginla is now a two-time MVP of the Kelowna Rockets, joining Jason Deleurme as the only players in franchise history to win the award twice.

At a table nearby sat Jarome Iginla. Close enough to see it all. Not as a Hall of Famer in that moment, but as a father.

And a few steps away, Tij Iginla was being honoured for a season that put him in rare territory.

The 19-year-old put together a dominant regular season. Ninety points in 48 games. A 17-game point streak to close it out. Night after night, he was not just producing; he was driving the group.

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“It’s been good. It’s been a lot of fun,” Iginla said. “The group’s been great. It changed a bit through the year, but after the deadline, the guys we brought in really gelled. We’re excited about going into the playoffs.

Individually, it was a big year for me, too, coming back from surgery and rehab. Just being able to play a lot, have fun, and be used in all situations… it made for a really enjoyable season.”

That part matters.

Because this season was not just about numbers. It was about growth after undergoing double hip surgery and being shut down in his 18-year-old season after just 21 games.

Two years ago, he broke through with 47 goals and 84 points and earned his first MVP. This year felt more complete. More controlled. More confident.

“I try to pride myself on being ready every night and playing hard,” he said. “There were definitely nights I could’ve been better, but it’s about finding ways to improve over the course of the season and have a positive impact for the team.”

That consistency showed up all year, and especially late.

At a time when games tighten and mistakes matter more, he did not slow down. He elevated.

And the way he did it speaks to how his game has evolved.

“My mindset is to be a great hockey player overall, not just a guy you rely on in the offensive zone,” Iginla said. “Whether it’s breaking pucks out, checking, whatever it is, I want to keep improving every part of my game.

The offensive side matters, but it’s about becoming a better all-around player and doing as much as I can each shift.”

That approach has not gone unnoticed, especially by the Utah Mammoth, who made him a first-round pick.

“They want me to keep improving the defensive side of my game,” he said. “But for me, it’s just about becoming the best player I can be, not being one-dimensional.

Those little plays, like breaking a puck out quicker, they lead to offense anyway. It’s all connected.”

By the end of the night, the award itself almost felt like a checkpoint.

Because historically, this is rare.

Deleurme was the only player in franchise history to win the MVP twice. Ninety-one points in 1996 to 97. Then 103 the following season. For decades, he stood alone.

Now he does not.

And there is another layer to this story that cannot be ignored.

The Kelowna Rockets are fortunate to have Iginla this season.

With new rules opening the door for NHL teams to place first-round picks in the American Hockey League as soon as next season, players like him may not spend as much time in the Western Hockey League moving forward.

Which makes this year matter even more in Kelowna.

You are not just watching a top player.

You might be watching the last stretch of it at this level.

Still, the focus for Iginla has already shifted.

“It is a new season now,” he said. “Everything resets. What we did in the regular season does not matter if we are not ready for Friday.”

Friday brings the Kamloops Blazers.

A familiar opponent. A rival. The Kamloops Blazers will push.

“It’ll be a battle. We know that,” Iginla said. “They don’t take nights off. They’re a hard team and a skilled team, so we’ll have to be ready.

I have faith we will. It should be an exciting matchup and some good games.”

There is also an understanding of what is at stake beyond just the first round.

“There’s definitely some pressure,” he said. “Which isn’t a bad thing.

Every round means a lot to every team, so it’s not unique that way. But yeah, being the host [of the Memorial Cup], there’s a little extra pressure to perform.”