Salt Lake City — When Tizi Iginla was introduced to the crowd at the Utah Hockey Club's development camp scrimmage on Friday, he received the loudest applause of any member of the team.
“It was really cool to hear the big cheers when they called my name,” said the 17-year-old centre, who was selected sixth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft out of Utah State University. “I think the fans have been really welcoming to the hockey club and to me. I think we're going to have some of the best fans in the league and it's going to be a lot of fun.”
Though his NHL debut is yet to be scheduled, the son of Calgary Flames legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla is already making waves in Utah.
“He's an unbelievable kid and a hockey player inside and out,” Utah general manager Bill Armstrong said. “We really loved him as a person but also as a player. He has everything we want.”
Iginla is fresh off a breakout season with Kelowna of the Western Hockey League, where he was second on the team with 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games and led the club in goals since being acquired from Seattle on June 8, 2023. He also helped Canada win the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in seven games.
“I think what stood out was his work ethic, his athleticism and his willingness to play inside, which is so important in the NHL,” Utah's director of player development Lee Stempiak said. “That's where the goals are scored. [he has] That enthusiasm is amazing.”
