‘I kind of blacked out’: Like Jarome, Tij Iginla makes Utah history

29/06/2024

LAS VEGAS — Tij Iginla is headed to Salt Lake City, a city that holds a special meaning for his Hall of Fame father, Jarome.

“My dad won an Olympics there in ’02,” said Tij, the first-ever draft pick of Utah HC, who was born in 2006. “I guess I wouldn’t have been at that one.”

Heck, the senior Iggy didn’t think he’d be at that one either.

Jarome was a late invitee to join Team Canada at those Winter Games. And legend has it, Iginla was so surprised to get the call to skate alongside Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux and Joe Sakic, he initially believed one of his Calgary Flames teammates was pulling a prank on him.

Iginla scored twice in the gold medal game, helping Canada defeat the Americans 5-2.

More impressive: Jarome became the first black man to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, a feat he’d repeat in 2010 by hearing Sidney Crosby call “Iggy!” and feeding him the tournament’s final pass.

Tij says his dad talks more about 2010 — “you know, the Golden Goal and everything” — but there is some poetry in the 17-year-old making a little history in Utah.

“It’s a milestone moment for all of us — for our state, I think, for hockey. We’re excited,” says Utah owner Ryan Smith. “We couldn’t be more thrilled this is happening. But if you would have told me in February that we’d be sitting here right now at draft, I would have said you’re crazy.

“Today’s a big moment. A milestone for everything that we’ve been working on.”

For Utah and for Tij, who lit up the WHL with a 47-goal, 84-point campaign.

“It’s a huge honour, for sure,” Tij said. “It would’ve been a surreal feeling to get picked by any team. But to be the first pick of a franchise is really cool as well.”

The sentimental Flames fan was hoping Iginla might fall to Calgary in the 9-hole, and Tij admits there was “definitely a thought” he might don the Flaming C.

“Oh, yeah, I’d be OK with that, and talking to him, he likes Calgary, too,” Jarome told Sportsnet’s Eric Francis leading up to the draft.

“There are tons of things I loved about Calgary, obviously: great place to live, close to home, passionate hockey market.

“But he’d be more than happy to go anywhere.

“As soon as he’s drafted it will be our job, and his job, to focus on all the great things that organization and opportunity has.”

Bubbling with cap space and trade capital and an owner ready to spend, Utah symbolizes opportunity.

And the club was never shy about its interest in its new six-foot centre.

Executives from Utah had been calling Tij throughout the season, and the prospect was encouraged by his positive meeting with GM Bill Armstrong at the Combine in Buffalo.

Then Armstrong and his team met with Tij, Jarome and the rest of the Iginla family Thursday morning in Las Vegas.

A big basketball fan who attended Celtics games while playing minor hockey in Boston, Tij is excited to be sharing a home with the Jazz and thrilled to reunite with Utah winger Dylan Guenther, a boyhood friend.

Still, Tij says he doesn’t want to rush his own development and is preparing to play out his 19-year-old season in junior.

As the sixth-overall pick, Tij can hold bragging rights over his old man, who fell all the way to 11th in the ’95 draft.

“Yeah, I mean, he had a pretty good career,” Tij smiled. “So, I guess I have to start trying to build my resume.”

When the Iginla name was announced inside the Sphere on Friday, Tij stood up and wrapped his arms around Jarome.

“He didn’t say much. To be honest, I don’t know. Maybe congratulations. I don’t even know. I kind of blacked out,” said Tij, who is quick to lean on Dad for advice.

So, what did Jarome tell his son heading into the night he’d make history?

“Enjoy the moment,” Tij said. “It goes fast, and it will be a day that I’ll be looking back on. This is one of the proudest days of my life.”

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