SALT LAKE CITY – After experiencing a lower-body injury a few weeks ago and missing the entirety of the Utah Hockey Club’s rookie camp, 2024 first round draft pick Tij Iginla is now healthy and participating in training camp.
I can confirm Tij Iginla is healthy and will return to practice.
It’ll be good to see him back on the ice.#UtahHockeyClub #NHL
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 25, 2024
As the first pick in Utah Hockey Club history, fans have been itching to get a look at Iginla in a real game setting since this summer. Unfortunately, due to a minor lower body injury, Iginla was held out of both the rookie camp and tournament for precautionary reasons.
However, Iginla is now listed as healthy and returned to practice this week.
Iginla is back, he looked great, and he’s thrilled to be in Utah.#UtahHockeyClub #NHL pic.twitter.com/EUEp0Oiz2Y
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 25, 2024
“It was good. Fun, fast paced, good drills and great to be out there…I just want to keep getting better every day and showcase my abilities as much as I can. Take it one day at a time,” Iginla said.
Tij Iginla has taken the ice.
Can’t wait to see what we get from the No. 6 pick today.#UtahHockeyClub #NHL pic.twitter.com/msp4P7JzIS
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 25, 2024
According to head coach Andre Tourigny, Iginla was a partial participant in Monday’s group B practice but will be a full participant on Wednesday.
“That’s really good, I think,” Coach said. “Good for him to be back. The last practice he made forty-five minutes and today we’ll do the entire practice. It’s good to have him back, no doubt.”
To no surprise, Iginla looked great during his return to the ice.
He moved well, skated well, showed zero signs of any lower-body issues and was a menace offensively. He avoided defensemen with ease and absolutely ripped shots on net all afternoon.
Moving well, skating well, and absolutely RIPPING shots on net.
Iginla looks solid in his return.#UtahHockeyClub #NHL pic.twitter.com/5AXZhdGUWQ
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) September 25, 2024
On one particular five-on-five drill, Iginla was a one-man show as he emerged from behind the net with the puck, stopped on a dime in the slot to lose his defender and snuck one past the goaltender before he knew what was coming.
He then scored on a tip seconds later. Overall, it appears that Iginla is doing just fine.
According to Iginla, he’s not quite 100% yet but he’s really happy to be back at camp and is thrilled to be in Utah.
“I’m thrilled to be here,” Iginla said. “You can tell it’s a great spot. It’s a first-class organization in every way and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m super excited to be a part of this organization and can’t wait to keep going.”
Iginla is an 18-year-old forward from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Before joining his local WHL team, Iginla was drafted ninth overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds where he spent two seasons prior to being traded to the Kelowna Rockets.
The Utah Hockey Club will continue their preseason against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night at T-Mobile Arena. The game can be viewed on SEG+. Click here for the full schedule.
