“It was always around, growing up in a hockey household,” says Jade, 17. “Getting to watch my dad and have him as a role model, his advice, it really does make a world of difference. Obviously, he’s my dad first, but all his knowledge of the sport is always valuable and appreciated.”

Jarome Iginla needs no introduction to Canadian hockey fans; he spent 20 seasons in the National Hockey League, scored 625 goals and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last fall.

He also made his mark with Team Canada, recording 47 points in 47 games across seven appearances in red and white, including gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship, IIHF World Championship and Olympic Winter Games, in addition to a World Cup of Hockey title.

Jade is the latest member of the Iginla family to step into the international hockey spotlight, wearing the Maple Leaf for the first time with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

After missing the preliminary round with an upper-body injury, Jade made her tournament debut for Canada in its quarterfinal against Slovakia. She tallied a total of three points (one goal, two assists) in three games, opening the scoring in a semifinal win over Finland and earning a helper on the 2-0 goal in the gold medal game as Canada claimed a sixth world title.

She hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps, but also wants to see what she can do for herself.

“There’s a lot of pride to representing the Maple Leaf,” says Jade, who will attend Brown University beginning in the fall. “My dad played a huge role in my family and in my life, but I’m also creating my own path with the Canadian program and in hockey.”

For Jarome, he is proud to see Jade’s success and development over the years, whether it was in minor hockey in with Girls Hockey Calgary, with RHA Kelowna in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, and now with Hockey Canada.

The important piece for Jarome is to continue to support Jade as a father, while sharing his hockey knowledge and experience when it is needed.

“It’s really cool to see her working forwards, having success, and going through the battles,” he says. “It's different being on the other side, but exciting that she has that passion and is representing her country. Just to even make it this far, she's very, very honoured and we are very proud of her.”

To add to the family’s hockey story, Tij Iginla will become the next member to join the Hockey Canada program this summer when he participates in the national under-17 development camp.

The ninth-overall pick by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Tij, 15, hopes to continue the hockey success in the family.

“Being named to the U17 development camp, being at that level with players across Canada, I’m really looking forward to it,” says Tij. “Jade has been very inspiring [at U18 women’s worlds] and has set a good example for me and my brother (Joe, 13).

“Being able to see my dad, wearing the Maple Leaf throughout his career, seeing Canada’s golden goal [in 2010], for me, my brother and my sister, we want to be like that as well.”

Having hockey in their lives, Jarome is happy to know the family is able to share and experience these moments together thanks to the game, and it’s just getting started.

“I have been always very thankful for our kids,” he says. “They enjoy hockey, and they enjoy sports. It’s something that I’ve been able to share that with them, and have been able to spend time with them. We feel very blessed.”