Smith Brothers Leading Walter Johnson Hockey

Parker Smith is a senior defenseman. His brother Emerson is a freshman goalie.

Their mom Jennifer Smith said it wouldn't feel right if the two didn't end up on the Walter Johnson High School club hockey team together this season.

That's because the brothers and Kensington residents went through every step of learning the game together. They started at the same time, took lessons together and played in instructional leagues.

On Tuesday, they were together on the ice again for the Montgomery Hockey Conference All-Star game at Wheaton Ice Arena, another testament to how far Emerson and Parker have come in the game together.

"We knew that this would happen eventually. We knew that the stars would align this year," Parker Smith said after the West team beat the East team, 6-5, in the game on Tuesday. "It's been a lot of fun. It's been good to have him in goal."

Jennifer Smith, who also serves as the secretary and treasurer of the league, said the two got hooked on hockey while watching the Calgary Flames, the favorite team of a relative, in the NHL playoffs.

They're interest in playing was immediate and real.

"They were like 'We're not kidding mom, we're really playing. We're definitely playing hockey,'" Jennifer Smith said.

They eventually played in the Montgomery Youth Hockey Association and this season, both have helped Walter Johnson's club team to fifth place in the 12-team MHC.

"[Parker] always comes and encourages me after a goal. I don't always listen but he's always there when I let in the goal," Emerson Smith joked." It's nice to have an older brother on the team."

Parker Smith feels the same way.

"[Emerson] is a real student of the game," he said. "This year has been a lot of fun."