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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Tyler Nettuno

Tij Iginla (Jarome’s son!) becomes the 1st ever draft pick of Utah HC

Tij Iginla Utah (Organization) NHL NHL Draft (Organization) the Utah Hockey Club Flames Hockey WHL

The Utah Hockey Club may not have an official mascot or even a permanent color scheme, but now, it has its first draft pick.

Utah, formerly the Arizona Coyotes, made 17-year-old Kelowna, Canada, forward Tij Iginla — son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla — the sixth pick in the 2024 draft and the first selection in franchise history after it relocated from Tempe ahead of the upcoming season.

The elder Iginla played for 21 seasons, leading the NHL in points once (2002) and goals twice (2002, 2004). The younger Iginla, who comes from the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, was one of the draft’s top prospects and recently helped lead Canada to a gold medal at the 2024 IHHL U18 World Championships in Finland.

Many expected Iginla — who is believed to be the first second-generation Black player in NHL history — would land with the Calgary Flames, with whom his father played 17 seasons, almost the entirety of his career. However, the Flames chose not to trade up for Iginla despite having the opportunity to do so.

NHL fans were thrilled to see Tij follow in Jarome’s footsteps on Friday night.

How the fans reacted

 

 

More NHL

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Goalie Logan Thompson still powered through an autograph session right after being traded to the Capitals

2024 NHL Draft tracker: Grading every pick in the first round

 

 

 

 

 

 

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