NHL hall-of-famer and WHL alum Jarome Iginla runs a U11 girls hockey team from P.E.I. through a practice Sunday at the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Que.--NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
RIMOUSKI, QUE.
Being at the 2025 Memorial Cup brought Jarome Iginla back to the glory days in Kamloops.
The NHL hall-of-famer and former Kamloops Blazer was in Rimouski, Que. on Sunday, leading a practice for a U11 team from P.E.I., who won a contest through Dr. Oetker’s Giuseppe Pizzeria.
“They had a good team but they also did a lot of good things in the community, so I’m really proud of that program and all the teams that participate and try to do good things as teammates and for each other, but also in the community and all the smiles that you imagine they bring,” Iginla said. “It’s been a great weekend for them. They seem like they had a really good time, lots of energy, spent lots of time cheering and all that stuff, but very well deserved. I think they had a good time and still their weekends are going.”
The U11 girls team from West Prince, P.E.I. was selected among teams across the country who submitted entries, “showcasing their love for the game and their commitment to teamwork, sportsmanship and development.”
The winning team received a trip to the 105th Memorial Cup, getting to watch the London Knights’ 3-2 overtime win Saturday over the Moncton Wildcats while enjoying a private pizza party with Iginla. They were led through some drills by Iginla who was on the bench due to a surgery a few weeks ago, his daughter Jade, who plays at the NCAA Div. I level with Brown University, helped on the ice.
“Jarome was really, really nice to the kids, he’s friendly, you could tell he’s used to being around his kids in hockey and coaching girls hockey, or being involved in it, and he knew exactly what kind of drills they could do,” P.E.I. head coach Morgan Cooke said.
The team went through some drills before playing in small scrimmages. It’s been a weekend experience and a season of success Cooke says will stay with his team forever.
“Just try to enjoy every second of it because it was real special,” Cooke said. “We got to the finals in every tournament we were in, won a provincial banner, spring hockey was the same. We won one, got to the finals in the other, a group like this and a team like this doesn’t come around every day.”
Iginla won two WHL championships and two Memorial Cups with the Kamloops Blazers in 1994 and 1995. Being among the four teams vying for the Memorial Cup, the 47-year-old Calgary Flames legend was brought back to his time at the tournaments.
“I remember my first Memorial Cup was in Laval and it was really cool to win the league as a team and then all of a sudden we’re flying and you get to see teams around the country and teams you only see on TV or read about, and get to see where you stack up and represent the WHL,” Iginla said. “It was intense, great memories and we were blessed to win it, and very fortunate, but also friendships you take back to Kamloops. As a city and a fan base, very proud and lots of great memories. And as young athletes, these guys will take a lot with them throughout their careers and life and on and off the ice.”
His eldest son Tij is slated to play in the Memorial Cup with the Kelowna Rockets next season when they will host the 2026 tournament. Iginla says he is cheering for the Tigers in this year’s tournament, hoping to see a WHL team bring the Memorial Cup back west.
“With us being from out west, we want to see the Tigers do really well and guys that Tij played with at Rink Academy in Kelowna, so (Gavin) McKenna, (Ryder) Ritchie and (Kadon) McCann and guys we played against, coached against that he played, so it’s fun to follow them, and they’re a good team.
“(Medicine Hat) has some big guys back near the end, so pretty formidable, but some good teams out here, saw Moncton and London play last night and it was a great game, talent on both sides and great goaltending. So it looks like a really good Memorial Cup and going to shape up that it’s hard to pick a winner, but I’m pulling for Medicine Hat.”
This story originally appeared at medicinehatnews.com/sports
