Amid the offseason last summer, the Kelowna Rockets made a splash in the WHL and acquired Lake Country native Tij Iginla from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla came to the Rockets and immediately shined, to the point he was honoured as the club’s most valuable player today.
“It's a cool award to win for anyone and being a second year is a huge honour,” said Iginla.
The NHL draft-eligible player has been in the spotlight for the majority of the season en route to 47 goals and 83 points in 62 games played.
Iginla is currently ranked 11th overall among North American skaters in the latest NHL scout rankings, but the draft is at the back of his mind as he turns his focus towards his team and a deep playoff run.
“At this point in the year, it's all about the team and we got huge games coming up,” he added.
When asked about winning the award, Iginla mentioned his teammates as he thought there were a couple who could have also been picked, such as Andrew Cristall.
Cristall took home the team’s top scorer award and is in the running for the best plus/minus award, as he is currently in the running with Iginla and Gabriel Szturc for the coveted prize.
The Washington Capitals prospect is the first Rocket to reach at least 100 points in a season since Colin Long did so in the 2007-08 season and has his eyes set on the playoffs.
“I think every time you get a chance to play in late March and April it's pretty exciting and you don't want to take it for granted,” explained Cristall.
“It's gonna be a pretty surreal experience to get to do it again and hopefully we get a little bit further of a run.”
Also earning an award was Hiroki Gojsic, who was named the team’s rookie of the year after what has been a completely different second half for the forward.
Gojsic joined the Rockets this past summer after spending a season with the Penticton Vees in the BCHL.
The forward has 21 goals and 50 points this season, with more than half of his goals scored coming in the latter half of the campaign.
The Rockets are on the road Friday to start a pivotal home-and-home series against the Vancouver Giants.
The Giants are currently one point ahead of the Rockets in the standings and Kelowna will need two straight wins to move up to the sought-after fifth playoff seed.
“These two games this weekend are huge for us and they kind of determine how well we do at playoffs,” explained an excited Gojsic.
The Rockets will also be wearing special jerseys on Saturday featuring their mascot – Rocky the Raccoon.
WhY iS YoUr mAsCoT a RaCcOoN bUt YoUr LoGo IsNt?!
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) March 20, 2024
Well, for one game only, @RocketsRocky will be the logo on our jersey and you could win won of them just by being at our game on Saturday!
Learn more about the giveaway and tickets https://t.co/Aphv99W0W8 pic.twitter.com/zhJNBY2FbK
“The jerseys are super cool and you know he obviously had a pretty viral moment, which is really funny, but I’m glad he is okay. It should be good to wear those. They're pretty sweet,” said Cristall.
Puck drop is at 7:05 pm on Saturday.
Further evidence that raccoons are indestructible @RocketsRocky pic.twitter.com/M8Snyo1iYT
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) March 9, 2024
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