Scouting Report
EVALUATED 03/12/2021
Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
Projectable skills - Puck control at high-tempo, Passing accuracy, High hockey IQ
Development opportunities - Skating power and quickness, physical maturity
So often when I’m watching Tij play, he is dictating the amount of zone pressure by his ability to maintain puck control through the neutral zone on entries. His ability to evade pressure with his mohawk stride and lateral bursts is incredible. His skating toolkit is absolutely full and is most likely the best overall technical skater available in the draft class. His motions are refined, keep defensemen guessing, and you always know he is looking to draw pressure and create high-danger scoring chances in the middle of the ice. He was doing this during his time in Boston but his numbers weren’t outlandish for two reasons. He was not partnered with quick-strike shooting threats and he wasn’t able to consistently finish scoring chances on his own. As he moved to Kelowna, I have looked for those two things to improve and the second one surely has. There have been moments where he elevated the puck in tight short side like not many players can and others where he faked forehand and went backhand roof on a breakaway. His high-level of puck control is gonna create fits at the WHL level. His reaction time and ability to process pressure and escape is the baseline for his growth. He should be handling the puck on the half-wall on the PP and playing consistent C in my opinion but it's been a mixed bag for that deployment so far. He was on the 2nd PP unit for Team BC and plays quite a bit of LW as I’ve seen. Tij Iginla’s skill development makes him one of the highest floor players available for the WHL. He may not be the fastest, the biggest, or have the heaviest shot, but he will make sure the opposition is constantly playing in their own end. Bank on that.
Skating
9Puck Skills
9Hockey IQ
9Playmaking
8.5Scoring
8Physicality
7.5Defense
7.5Overall
8.36Scouting Report
EVALUATED 23/07/2021 Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
Boston Jr. Eagles (5) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (2) - May 1, 2021
Tij Iginla is such a fun player to watch because he has such soft hands. He’s got a good understanding of spacing and skating pathways, how to open up space for his teammates, and can dip the shoulder for power moves or puck protection when he needs to. Compared to his teammates, I think he’s a touch behind when it comes to explosion in his stride but once he gets moving, he finds real great speed. He’s certainly a high-IQ player and can problem solve situations to his advantage. He opened the scoring with a great forehand move on a penalty shot after missing out on a goal earlier. With a puck in the crease, Tij reached, pulled to drag it short side like a pro. One moment too, in tight, he showed his wrist shot accuracy by attempting to elevate a puck to the top corner. He just missed. A lot to like about this well-rounded player.
Overall
8.36Game Reports
EVALUATEDSam McGilligan
Regional Scout - Canada
I’m growing more and more fond of Iginila’s transitional game and how he manufactures danger in the offensive zone through his rushes with every game. He balances on the line between playing low in his DZ to assist in recovering the puck and playing high to maximize on open space during a rush extremely well and it’s rewarding him time and time again over the course of this event. He doesn’t even have to be the puck carrier to take full advantage of this because he knows exactly how to move about when away from the puck, like in his first goal where Iginla actively made the decision to not stretch the ice on a 2v1 but instead crowd the Swedish defender and try to force him off the inside angle for Procyszyn to get a clean shot. It also gives him the perfect position to nail in the rebound chance, which Iginla did with ease. Despite the transitional praise, I still think the best part of Iginla’s game right now is when the team is set in the OZ. He is so aware with his stick positioning to deny defensive exits deep in the zone and knows how to recover the puck and avoid pressure to open up passing lanes — something he utilized in his second point of the game. Add in the pass to Martone as he is facing pressure from two Swedish players to get the empty net goal and Iginla comes away as the first star of this game.
Game Reports
EVALUATEDSam McGilligan
Regional Scout - Canada
The last name seems fitting for a player this well rounded and intelligent everywhere on the ice. Tij Iginla definitely plays the game like someone who has had a HoFer teach them since they first got on skates and it’s molded him into a great skater, shooter, passer and off-puck player. It’s no surprise that a player with those qualities walks away with a multi-point game. His first point, a secondary assist, is actually just a simple zone exit pass across the middle to the weak-side but I would like to point out that his route following the pass forces the defensive triangle to guard the middle more — giving Luchanko and Catton the space they need to set up the goal itself. I particularly love the contrast between that point and his second one, a goal scored via tip-in during the second period. It demonstrates he has a wealth of valuable tools on the ice.
Game Reports
EVALUATED Joel Henderson
Director of Scouting
I thought Tij looked outstanding today. Pucks were flowing through him on the halfwall on the PP and he had numerous high-danger chances created off his stick. His blast of a one timer from the slot almost found the mark too. His power, edgework, and ability to hold possession and cut heavily to evade pressure down low was evident too. When someone as tactically sound and detailed as Tij puts all the pieces together like he did today, he finds that extra extension of his stick, the perfect timing on delay passes, and just seems to outsmart his opponent all over the ice. He was a force of positivity today.
Game Reports
EVALUATED
Alex Annun
Regional Scout - USA
Someone who I felt probably should have walked away with a goal in this contest is Tij Iginla. His shooting was very strong in this contest and he did so from very dangerous areas in and around the slot, forcing Cloutier to make very difficult saves a number of times. Iginla looked very at home on the powerplay and he was able to use the extra space to work his way into openings on the ice and Catton and Misa were able to find him the puck and he directed them on goal. It felt like he was bound to end up with one after the dust settled but he could not find the back of the twine. He skated well and made a few nice passes to keep the Black defense moving around in their zone and he found some pockets of space as a result.
Game Reports
EVALUATEDJoel Henderson
Director of Scouting
I thought this was a great showing for what Tij can bring to the table for a team. He’s always been a strong transition player and because of his strong pass reception, great skating techniques, and ability to adapt and shift laterally, it allows him to push play and drive possession. There were moments where he went skate-to-stick easily and made players hesitate to close space on him from the half wall. He had a couple moments of circling the zone where he attempted to cut to the middle which just got broken up. So close. Tig attacked the middle of the ice, helped out in all three zones, and created a number of chances. I thought the easiest thing to correct would just be his comfortability with his role and skating lanes. Sometimes I felt like he wasn’t sure which space was his. That is certainly to be expected when he’s thrown in the lineup. He got an assist and almost scored on a deke attempt. Tig Iginla should absolutely be a fan favorite and Seattle fans got a taste of why throughout his debut.
Player Card
- All Data is derived via 5v5 per 60 minutes rate displayed in percentile format.
- Data Courtesy of In Slat.
SIGNED:
Kelowna Rockets
13/06/2023
LEAGUE PREDICTION
-
CHL
Confirmed
100%
TEAM PREDICTION
-
Kelwona Rockets
Confirmed
100%
TIMELINE
- 2023
08/06/2023
Tij Iginla is traded to the Kelowna Rockets
- 2021
18/12/2021
Tij Iginla signs with the Seattle Thunderbirds
- 2021
09/12/2021
The Seattle Thunderbirds Draft Tij Iginla
