When it comes down to inheriting your parent’s talents… there are times when it is less obvious and more of a mystery.
For example, Sidney Crosby’s father, Troy Crosby, was a goalie that played for Verdun’s junior ice hockey team in his late teens to little avail, and has said on quote that he has no idea where Sidney picked up the skillset he possesses since he bascially taught him jack-squat. And when it comes to NHL phenom Connor McDavid, most forget he has an older brother, Cameron… his hockey career never really panned out, possibly making him one of the hardest “rough drafts” we have ever seen.
They like to say talent skips a generation in some instances, but that’s the furthest thing from the case when it slides down to former NHL goal scoring machine, Jarome Iginla’s son, Tij Iginla.
(@nhlflames / Instagram)
Currently, Tij plays hockey at the Rink Hockey Academy in Kelowna for the U18 squad at only 15-years old and he’s already one of the roster’s top offensive producers, playing alongside the highly-coveted Whitehorse born and raised forward, Gavin McKenna. Furthermore, his father Jarome actually coaches the team as well! Which heavily influenced his decision to come play in Kelowna. In four games this season, Tij has accumulated three goals and two assists as one of the youngest members on the team.
On October 6th, Tij was one of the lucky few to get his name called upon to play for Team BC at the WHL Cup, a tournament where each of Canada’s most western provinces craft a team consisting of their top U15 players. Their first game of the tournament was on October 20th, and Tij spent no time getting his name on to the scoresheet for Team BC…
Team BC win!! An eight-goal outburst helps Team BC to a huge win in their opening game of the 2021 #WHLCup!
They return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m. PST, taking on @hockeymanitoba! pic.twitter.com/UPvnxsX6p4
— BC Hockey (@BCHockey_Source) October 21, 2021
Tij would pile on a goal and an assist in BC’s dominant win over the reigning champs from Saskatchewan. As the tournament progressed, Tij would find the stat sheet again and again, ultimately helping his team secure a 3-0 record in the round robin.
Tij and Team BC are set to take on the fourth-seeded team in the semi-finals tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM PST, where Tij is looking to cook up an all-out performance and show shades of his father.