A Drumheller hockey official is rising through the ranks, and last week called his first major junior game.
Tyler Jensen, son of Tammy and Mike, has been working his way up the officiating ladder and last week, he acted as a lineman in the WHL in a Calgary Hitmen game versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes. This was at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“It was an awesome experience,” Jensen told The Mail.
The game was a blow out as the home team won 9-2.
Jensen has been working hard to get to this point, he has been officiating since he was 14, starting at the minor hockey level and working his way up.
“The last few years it has been really quick,” he says.
In 2009, The Mail reported that at 19 he was refereeing Junior B and AAA Midget. Fast forward a couple years, he was right in the mix at AJHL games. At this level, he is refereeing.
In few years he hopes to be actually refereeing in the WHL, a step up from lining.
“Ultimately the dream is the big leagues, but it is a long way away still,” said Jensen.
Jensen is still involved heavily in officiating at the local level, and has built his career with Drumheller as a home base. He says there are still many opportunities to get involved in refereeing in Drumheller.
It is an opportunity to see the game at a different angle, get in shape, stay involved in the game and maybe earn some extra cash. He says there are still some clinics coming up that are nearby for those interested in getting involved.
To register for a clinic go to www.czrc.ab.ca. For more information, contact Lemieux at Lemieux.greg@gmail.com
