Three decades after etching his name into Canadian hockey lore, Jarome Iginla is returning to the world junior championship. This time, he's watching from the stands as a proud father, with his son Tij lacing up his skates for Team Canada.
A Father's Legacy, A Son's Journey
The year was 1996. A young Jarome Iginla, freshly traded to the Calgary Flames, dominated the world junior tournament in Boston. He led all scorers with 12 points, including five goals, and powered Canada to a gold medal victory over Sweden. Fast forward to today, and his son, Tij Iginla, is poised to create his own memories at the same prestigious event.
"It was so impactful in my memory," Jarome Iginla recalled of his 1996 experience. He shared a charmingly dated detail that highlighted the era's spirit. "At the time, we used to get faxes from people around Canada, and they would post them for us. It felt like so many Canadians were watching at home and supporting us." He described receiving daily batches of well-wishes from Quebec to British Columbia, a tangible connection to a nation behind the team.
Tij Iginla: Carrying the Torch for a New Generation
The legacy now rests on the shoulders of 19-year-old Tij Iginla. The winger from Lake Country, B.C., is a top prospect following a standout season with the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets, where he averaged an impressive 1.59 points per game. His talent was recognized when he was selected sixth overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2024 NHL Draft.
Tij has already shown he's ready for the international stage, netting three goals in three exhibition games during Team Canada's pre-tournament preparations. He aims to replicate the success of his father's golden generation, which included future NHLers like goaltender Jose Theodore and forwards Daymond Langkow and Hnat Domenichelli.
From Faxes to a New Era of Fandom
While the method of fan support has evolved from fax machines to social media, the core mission remains unchanged: winning gold for Canada. Jarome Iginla, a Hockey Hall of Famer with over 600 NHL goals and an iconic assist on Sidney Crosby's "Golden Goal" in 2010, understands the weight and wonder of the tournament better than most.
As Tij and his teammates take to the ice on Boxing Day, they carry not only the hopes of a country but also the proud legacy of a father who once starred on the same stage. For the Iginla family, the world juniors represent a powerful, full-circle moment in Canadian hockey history.
