Saskatchewan linesman looking forward to second world junior tournament

It’s not just the players who are looking forward to showcasing their skills at the 2023 world junior hockey championship.

It’s also an opportunity for officials to take their game to a new level and show what they can do on the international stage.

Tarrington Wyonzek, a linesman from Regina, will be suiting up to officiate his second world junior event when the tournament gets underway on Boxing Day in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B.

“I’m just looking forward to it. It’s not only a great opportunity to represent Canada but represent Hockey Saskatchewan and the IIHF at an event like this,” the 30-year-old official said. “It was amazing.

“Anytime the phone (rings) for an event like this – whether it is a national event with Hockey Canada or an international event with the IIHF — it’s just lots of emotions hit you and you’re very excited for the opportunity. We have a lot of officials in Canada so to be selected for something like this is something I hold close to my heart and just excited and honoured to be given the opportunity.”

This will be the second world junior event for Wyonzek, who did the 2021 tournament that was held inside the Edmonton bubble with no fans in attendance.

“It was a little different, but once you get onto the ice and once you’re focused and once you’re in the game, there’s no real difference out there,” Wyonzek said. “Fans or not, the intensity on the ice is still the same.

“It’s a little different going out onto the ice and not hearing the roaring crowd and what not, especially in Canada. We get really good turnouts at all the events that Hockey Canada and the IIHF host. Not hearing the crowd is a little different than normal but the intensity on the ice is still the same. The players on the ice are playing the exact same game whether there are fans in the stands or not.”

He has also been an official for the WHL and AHL, along with doing two under-18 world championships (2019 in Sweden, 2022 in Germany).

Wyonzek decided to focus solely on the officiating part of his game when he finished his final year of under-18 hockey in Yorkton, where his is originally from.

“I just decided that it was time to look elsewhere. I had a passion for officiating and the year I graduated high school I moved over to Regina and I got hired by the WHL that year and I just kind of took off running with it. It’s been a big passion and a big part of my life for the past 15 years,” Wyonzek said.

Much like players who are playing in junior leagues, Wyonzek said officials also get scouted at the events they participate in.

“We get scouted very similar to how players do. You have to go out there and work your hardest every game you are on the ice for, no matter what league you’re skating because there are always eyes on you and always eyes at the rink and there are always people involved that see you out there whether it is working a junior game or a major junior game or the American (Hockey) League,” Wyonzek said.

He’s hopeful that continued good showings could lead to bigger tournaments in the future.

“I’m really, really hoping to get a chance to work a men’s world championship at some point. After a men’s world championship, you have your eyes set on the Olympics down the road,” he said.

“For now, I’m just really focused on the world juniors and doing the best job I can there and maybe everything falls into place and I get more opportunities down the road.”