You’ll likely be seeing a lot more of Jarome Iginla at Prospera Place over the next few years.
The Kelowna Rockets have swung a blockbuster deal to acquire 16-year-old Tij Iginla, son of the Hockey Hall of Famer and Calgary Flames legend, from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
In exchange, Kelowna is sending Grady Lenton, a first-round draft pick in 2024 and a second-round pick in 2027, previously acquired from the Thunderbirds, to Seattle.
The @Kelowna_Rockets have acquired forward Tij Iginla from the @SeattleTbirds in exchange for forward Grady Lenton, a first-round pick in the 2024 #WHLDraft and a second-round selection in 2027.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) June 7, 2023
📰 | https://t.co/Yt68J8gSg9
📸 | Jerret Gale pic.twitter.com/lHpP8Oc9gh
GM Bruce Hamilton said the club is excited to have the chance to acquire a player like Iginla, who has a full season of WHL hockey under his belt as a 16-year-old.
“He’s a great skater with great hockey sense, who shoots the puck well,” Hamilton explained. “He’s exactly who we’re looking for in the makeup of our team in trying to get faster. With the personnel that we have, he adds to the group of elite players that can play in our top six.”
The Lake Country product played 48 games for Seattle during his rookie season, posting six goals and 12 assists to go with 19 penalty minutes and a +6 rating.
He added an assist and two penalty minutes in his only three playoff games, all coming against his hometown Rockets.
Iginla was originally selected ninth overall by Seattle in the 2021 WHL draft and his younger brother Joe was recently taken 12th overall in the 2023 WHL draft by the Edmonton Oil Kings. Tij and Joe's older sister Jade plays hockey at Brown University.
Lenton, who was an eighth-round pick of Kelowna’s in 2020, played 59 games for the Rockets last season, posting four goals and four assists.
“We’d like to thank Grady for his time with the Rockets,” added Hamilton. “We wish him all the best in Seattle and moving forward.”
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