His Hockey Hall of Fame father went undrafted in the annual Western Hockey League91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s bantam draft selection.

So, in essence, Tij Iginla is one up on dad, Jarome.

Lake Country91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Tij was taken in the first round, ninth overall, of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft Thursday, Dec. 9, by the Seattle Thunderbirds. Tij is coached by his dad 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ the former Kamloops Blazers, Calgary Flames and Team Canada Olympics stalwart 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ“ at Kelowna91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Rink Hockey Academy U18 Prep team.

The junior Iginla is a 5-foot-10, 150 pound 15-year-old forward with Rink Academy. The elder Iginla was inducted into the Hall of Fame last month.

In case you needed video of our recently drafted Tij Iginla

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds)

Iginla91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s teammate Ryder Ritchie of Kelowna was taken 14th overall by the Prince Albert Raiders.

The Spokane Chiefs had the first overall pick and went with 5-foot-11, 155-pound centre Berkly Catton of the Saskatoon Contacts U18 AAA team.

Jordan Gavin of Surrey, and the Delta Hockey Academy U17 Prep team, a 5-foot-11, 143-pound centre, was chosen second overall by the Tri-City Americans.

It was a huge day for Kelowna/West Kelowna players and for hockey academies in the Central and South Okanagan.

Seven Kelowna players were selected, as were two each from West Kelowna and Lake Country, and one player each from Vernon, Salmon Arm and Penticton. All were selected by the eighth of 14 rounds in the draft.

Rink Hockey Academy91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s U18 Prep team had a staggering nine players picked in the draft, along with two from its U16 Prep squad. Penticton91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s Okanagan Hockey Academy91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s U17 Prep Black team had four players taken, and there was one selection from the academy91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s U16 Prep Team.

The Okanagan Rockets had one player selected from each of its U18 AAA and U17 AAA squads, and the B.C. Hockey League91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s West Kelowna Warriors had one player chosen.

OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP SELECTIONS (name, overall selection, round chosen, WHL team selection, current team, hometown):

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Tij Iginla - 1st, 9th, Seattle Thunderbirds, Rink Hockey Academy U18 Prep, Lake Country

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Ryder Ritchie - 1st, 14th, Prince Albert Raiders, Rink Hockey Academy U18 Prep, Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Maddix McCagherty - 22nd, 25th, Swift Current Broncos, Rink Hockey Academy U18 Prep, Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Lynden Lakovic - 2nd, 27th, Moose Jaw Warriors, West Van Warriors U18 Prep, West Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Hunter Laing - 2nd, 33rd, Prince George Cougars, Rink Hockey Academy U16 Prep, Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Jesse Sanche - 2nd, 42nd, Kamloops Blazers, Okanagan Hockey Academy U17 Prep Black, Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Seth Tansem - 2nd, 43rd, Prince Albert, Rink Hockey Academy U18 Prep, Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Nathan Mayes - 3rd, 51st, Spokane Chiefs, Yale Hockey Academy U17 Prep, Salmon Arm

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Evan Gardner - 3rd, 53rd, Saskatoon Blades, Rink Hockey Academy U18 Prep, Lake Country

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Cole Wadsworth - 4th, 73rd, Spokane, Okanagan Hockey Academy U17 Prep Black, Penticton

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Ethan Merner - 4th, 80th, Calgary Hitmen, Yale Hockey Academy U17 Prep, Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Ethan Mackenzie - 4th, 82nd, Edmonton Oil Kings, Rink Hockey Academy U16 Prep, West Kelowna

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Tyson Matthews - 6th, 128th, Prince George, Okanagan Rockets U17AAA, Vernon

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Tyson Jugnauth - 7th, 147th, Kamloops Blazers, West Kelowna Warriors {BCHL}, Richmond

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ¢ Kaslo Ferner - 7th, 151st, Regina Pats, Okanagan Rockets U18 AAA, Kelowna

The entire draft list can be found .

In the sixth round, we're proud to select defenceman Tyson Matthews from the Okanagan Rockets U17 AAA.

91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” PG Cougars (@PGCougars)

roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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