As the Calgary Flames decked up their roster with another Iginla, Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla’s son Joe Iginla made some honest admissions about joining the club.

For the 3rd-round, 65^th overall pick, it’s not about simply following his father’s footsteps and joining the club Jarome has graced for 16 seasons. In a recent interview posted by the Flames' official X page, Joe explained what the moment means to him.

“Yeah, it's exciting for sure. Obviously grew up watching the Flames, rooting for them. So, it's really cool,” the 17-year-old told the reporters. “It's been nice, you know. I like to think I'm well-received. So, I'm grateful, and I'm happy to get going.”

According to Sportsnet’s journalist Eric Francis, Joe ranked 200th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He produced 15 goals and 31 points across the 59 games he played for the Vancouver Giants and Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL.

And this sort of production could’ve made him a much later pick. But the Flames’ general manager, Craig Conroy, trusted bloodline over stats and rankings. And the youngest Iginla played into that role, outlining what he’ll do once he hits the rink in a Calgary jersey.

“Obviously, haters are gonna always say something, and people will say something about your dad,” Joe said following the draft, per Francis. “So, I think I’m just gonna go out there and try to prove them wrong.”

But as he gears up to show his capabilities, Joe Iginla also revealed how his brother influenced his journey.

How Tij Iginla's Path Shaped Joe's Approach

Two years ago, many expected Jarome Iginla's older son Tij to become the next Iginla on the Flames' roster. But despite being drafted 6th overall by the Utah Mammoth in the 2024 Draft, Tij kept being Joe's guiding force.

“I learned tons from him. Obviously, you know, I get to learn from my dad,” the youngest Iginla said in the same X post by the Flames. “But my brother, you know, he's in it now, he goes through it, he's gotten everything I've done. So, I mean, he's a role model for sure, and I learned a lot from him.”

Joe is now attending the Flames’ 2026 development camp, stretching from July 1-3. And this will be his moment to tune in with his brother and father’s teachings as he savours the experience of playing for Calgary.

What do you think his season will look like? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Deblina Roy