- Three Kelowna Rockets will face each other at the World Junior Championship in Minneapolis–St. Paul.
- Tij Iginla will wear Canada’s colours; Tomas Poletin and Vojtech Cihar skate for Czechia.
- Iginla and Poletin were key contributors in pre-tournament games; Cihar joins Rockets after the tournament.
H2: Rocket friends now foes at World Juniors
Kelowna Rockets teammates will swap jerseys for national colours as the World Junior Hockey Championship begins in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Forward Tij Iginla heads into the tournament with Team Canada, while Tomas Poletin and recent Kelowna acquisition Vojtech Cihar skate for Czechia.
All three players have spent the first half of the WHL season linked to the Rockets: Iginla and Poletin have skated together throughout the season, and Cihar — acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes — is expected to join Kelowna after the tournament finishes.
H3: Early form and pre-tournament momentum
Tij Iginla arrives riding strong pre-tournament form. He scored three times while skating on Canada’s second line in exhibition games, giving him momentum heading into the opening face-offs. Poletin also made headlines for Czechia, scoring two of his country’s five pre-tournament goals in overtime wins over Latvia and Slovakia.
Cihar’s selection adds depth to Czechia’s forward group. Though he joined the Rockets later in the season, his performances in the WHL earned him a roster spot for the tournament and a likely return to Kelowna for the second-half push toward the WHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup.
H4: First matchup and quick stakes
The timetable gives the trio little time to stay teammates in spirit — Poletin and Iginla meet on the ice tonight as the tournament opens. Canada will be looking to start strongly and avenge quarter-final losses to Czechia in recent years. Czechia, meanwhile, will lean on the chemistry of players like Poletin and Cihar to challenge top teams.
H3: What this means for the Rockets
Kelowna fans will track all three players closely. Their international experience can translate into a midseason boost when they return to the Rockets. Head coaches in Kelowna expect Iginla, Poletin and Cihar to rejoin the team for the second half, bringing lessons learned on the international stage back to the WHL dressing room.
H5: Quick facts
- Tournament: World Junior Championship, Minneapolis–St. Paul
- Players: Tij Iginla (Canada), Tomas Poletin (Czechia), Vojtech Cihar (Czechia)
- Club: Kelowna Rockets (Cihar to join post-tournament)
The World Junior Championship runs 11 days, and early matchups will test national team depth. For the Kelowna Rockets trio, the event is both a personal milestone and a short separation from teammates — one that could pay dividends for Kelowna’s playoff push when they return.
Image Referance: https://www.castanet.net/news/WHL/591148/Kelowna-Rockets-teammates-turn-to-adversaries-as-world-junior-tournament-begins
