Is Tij Iginla related to Jarome Iginla? Tracing the family tree of top 2024 NHL draft prospect (Image Credits: IG/Tij Iginla)

Tij Iginla is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla. Iginla is expected to be a top-10 pick in the 2024 NHL draft, which is set for Friday.

Tij was born in 2006 in Kelowna, British Columbia, to Jarome and Kara. Jarome and Kara started dating in grade eight and married on August 6, 2003.

Jarome Iginla played 20 years in the NHL, playing in 1,554 regular season games, scoring 625 goals and 675 assists for 1,300 points.

Tij Iginla is the middle child, and his older sister, Jade, plays hockey at Brown University. His younger brother, Joe, plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL.

Jarome Iginla, meanwhile, has four paternal half-siblings: two brothers, Jason and Stephen, and two sisters, Theresa and Elizabeth.

Where will Tij Iginla be drafted?

Tij Iginla is expected to be drafted in the top 10 and has been widely predicted to go ninth overall to the Calgary Flames, where Jarome spent the majority of his career.

Iginla is ranked as the 10th-best player in the draft, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. Some NHL scouts don’t think Tij will be as good as his dad, but they believe he will be a solid NHL player.

“He literally just kept scoring goals and playing so well this season that he made you pay attention and move him up on your list,” a scout said to TSN.

“He’s not his dad — who is? — but he does have one of the hardest shots and best releases in the draft,” another scout said. “He’s showing flashes of having a power game; he’s hard to contain.”

Tij Iginla was drafted ninth overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2021 WHL draft. Iginla had a breakout 2023-24 season, as he entered the year not being considered a top-level prospect.

But, this past season, after being traded to Kelowna, he recorded 47 goals and 37 assists for 84 points in 64 games. He also helped Team Canada win gold in the 2024 under-18 tournament, where he had six goals and six assists in seven games, as well as having three points in the gold medal game.