SASKATOON – The Saskatoon Blades are seeking billets for the upcoming Western Hockey League (WHL) 2015-16 season. Players leave their homes and even their countries to stay with billet families.
The hockey club says billets play a very important role and it appreciates all of their hard work. By opening up homes to these young athletes, hosts can provide them with a stable and secure environment while they compete in the WHL.
“Billet family is more the proper term. It’s just basically a home for our players to live at, to reside at,” said Dean Brockman, Blades assistant coach.
About 20 homes are needed throughout the season.
“Some people take two [players],” said Brockman.
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The season’s first faceoff may be months away, but the Blades are looking for people to create a home away from home.
“We definitely do our home visit with the family and get a feel for how busy their lives are, there’s certain requirements for them to be a billet and vice versa, you want to try and make that fit for the player to be as comfortable as they can be without disturbing the whole home,” said Brockman.
“We definitely have our guidelines, but other than curfews, it’s really house rules.”
Billets are compensated financially; however, it isn’t substantial. Brockman says it takes real hockey enthusiasts to open up their homes for the team.
“It’s people that have a vast interest in the hockey team and really are fans of the club,” said Brockman.
He says billets find the experience rewarding and it often results in players and families forming lifelong relationships.
“People really get emotional or attached to the players especially when they leave or graduate and you can certainly see the compassion and the care in these people’s home that contribute to the billeting program,” said Brockman.
“It’s really their second home or their second set of parents.”
There’s no deadline to apply, but players start showing up in mid-August for training camp.
“Typically, we need more spots at the beginning for camp and so even if people are interested in just billeting a player for camp, we are certainly willing to accept that,” said Brockman.
“For some people it’s ‘yes’ and some people it’s ‘no.’ It just gives them an idea of what it could all be about.”
The hockey club’s training camp starts Aug. 27. Any interested parties can contact Brockman at 306-975-8844 ext. 30 or email him at dean@saskatoonblades.com.
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