‘Losing sucks’ – Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla

Earning a goal and three assists in four pre-season games with his new team, after being acquired from the T-Birds on June 7, Iginla was asked about how head coach Kris Mallette can get the best out of him.

“I would say I am a pretty motivated individual”, the 17 year-old said quickly. “I like being coached intensely, having that intensity and fire behind the bench.”

Iginla may be a rare breed, with more players than ever wanting to be coddled while having a hard time accepting negative feedback.

“While I like a hard coach, I like to be given the grace to try to make plays and make the odd mistake, but work hard to make up for it.”

It sounds like Mallette’s type of player, who as a coach, can accept mistakes being made as long as the individual is willing to correct them.

“Playing with pace is obviously a huge thing”, Iginla said, wanting to force the opposition to make mistakes. “They say speed kills. You want to play fast as an individual and fast as a team.”

The Lake Country resident should be allowed to run and gun this season under Mallette’s watch, with the proof in the pudding on how the veteran coach handled forward Andrew Cristall during a 95-point campaign.

“My opinion may be a bit biased, but I would say ya”, he said, when asked if he wasn’t given crucial minutes to show what he could do last season, with the soft-spoken forward a healthy scratch at the 2023 Memorial Cup. Only compounding matters was the T-Birds loaded up in their quest for the Ed Chynoweth Cup by getting two forwards from the pros by acquiring Dylan Guenther and Brad Lambert.

Iginla and the Rockets face the T-Birds for the first time since last season’s opening-round playoff series on November 22 at ShoWare Center, with Iginla having the date marked on his calendar.

“Every game is a big one this year, and every game we will show up, but I am definitely looking forward to that one.”

The draft-eligible forward joins a new team with a new number in 2023-2024. After playing last season in Seattle wearing number 17, he has switched to number 11.

“I’ve worn number 11 for a long time”, Iginla explained, happy with the change in digits. “I wore 12, like my dad [Jarome Iginla] until I was seven years old, and it was taken the next year, so I switched to 11. I was number 11 until last year [in Seattle], but it was taken, so I went to 17. It is nice to get back to my old number of 11, which I like a lot.”

When asked if second-year forward Will Munro was willing to offer up his number 12 to Iginla, would he take it?

“No,” he said without hesitation.

Problem solved.

It is one of the perils of being the son of a famous hockey player. When Iginla’s dad sets up Sydney Crosby for the ‘Golden Goal’ at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the media often ask about his father’s influence.

“Sometimes it gets irritating”, Iginla said honestly. “If it is question after question about it, it can get a little much. To have him in my corner is nothing I’d ever change, so I guess it is worth it.”

The comparison between Iginla and his Hockey Hall of Fame father are unavoidable, so for the one and only time on this platform, we asked about the similarities.

“I have a bit of a scoring touch like him, I believe”, Iginla said, graciously not rolling his eyes at the query. “I think we are both powerful skaters.”

With the regular season starting this Saturday against the visiting Portland Winterhawks, Iginla wants to keep his personal goals to himself. That said, he offered up this nugget with a huge grin on his face.

“I have two high school classes to finish up this semester and then I will be free.”

by Regan Bartel

‘Losing sucks’ – Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla

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