Brothers work SJHL lines

It was a special night Sunday for brothers Tarrington and Tarrum Wyonzek as they teamed up as linesmen for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League game between Yorkton and Flin Flon at the Farrell Agencies Arena.

For Tarrum, 16, it was his first time officiating an SJHL game, following in his brother's skate strides as he too started in the league at 16.

Tarrum said the SJHL is a step up for him.

"It's definitely a little faster," he said, adding that he still felt "comfortable out there."

So how did the younger brother do?

Tarrington said after the first period he could tell his younger brother was still dealing with some jitters, adding "I told him he was doing good."

It was also a game Tarrington said he was glad he was part of.

"It was pretty special to come down and work a game with him," he said.

Tarrington, now 21, has progressed beyond the SJHL, having signed on with the Western Hockey League at the start of the current season. He said initially officiating was a way to make some extra dollars as a young teenager, but it has grown into something he sees may be a career.

"Junior 'A' (WHL) definitely is a career-based thing," he said.

So would he like to take it farther, maybe even to the National Hockey League?

"It's a big, big, big dream," said Tarrington, adding "it's a long way away."

But Tarrington is making strides in the right direction with his WHL contract in hand, and being assigned to the IIHF Under-17 World Championships in Nova Scotia starting Dec. 29.

Tarrington said he is just working as hard as he can at his craft, and seeing where that takes him.

"Lots of it is physical. I'm at the gym every day. I'm on the ice every night, seven days a week," he said, adding officials need to be "in better shape than players," because they are on the ice for the entire 60-minutes.

You also need something of a short memory.

"The biggest thing is officials are human. We're going to make mistakes," said Tarrington, adding you have to be able to accept that a mistake was made "and then forget about that call."

Tarrum said that is where he has something of an advantage, having an older brother offering advice, and being a sounding board when needed.

"You have to have a thick skin," he said.

Tarrington said officials are good at supporting each other, brothers or not. He said he regularly gets texts of support from other officials, or will be asked for an opinion on how he might have handled a certain on-ice situation.

"It's like a big family (officials)," he said.