For hockey players, it's a home away from home, literally.
Billet families are more than just a place for players rest their head after every game; they become family.
Ryan Symington, Bonnyville Junior A Pontiac alumni, has lived with billet families for five-years. Most recently, he was living with Marcel and Candace Vasseur, and fellow Pontiacs Ryan Piche and Tyler Podgorenko.
He described his billet family as a second-set of parents, teaching him life skills, giving advice, and always supporting him both on and off the ice.
Living with them for eight months out of the year, Symington said they become a valuable part of a player's life.
“They're just there to be a part of your life and help you out while you're living away from home. They try and help make it as easy of a transition as they can,” he said. “They become a part of your family. It's nice when you can go home and you're not worried about anything, it's just like you're going home and it's just another day. They (the Vasseurs) are just so welcoming, and they made the transition from my home to a billet home so easy.”
That transition is important to a young player, who could be moving away from home for the very first time.
Candace is not only a billet herself, but also the Pontiacs' billet coordinator. She knows first-hand how important it is for players to have a family-like atmosphere to come home to at the end of the day.
“It's huge, because that's the last thing a player wants to be focused on, is what's happening outside of the rink. You want to just be able to focus on what's happening on the ice and around you. You don't want to have to worry about the stuff outside of the rink. Being open and helping you is huge, because you can take your mind off of that and not have to worry about it at all,” Symington expressed.
Before the season starts, the Pontaics are in search of families interested in billeting a player.
Candace said there aren't too many expectations for billet families. The biggest is ensuring players have a room to themselves, and access to three-square meals a day.
“We're just looking for homes that are going to treat the players like their own,” Candace expressed.
Allergies, kids, and atmosphere are all taken into consideration when deciding if a family is a good fit for the billet program.
“The players have to be comfortable and have to be treated like a member of the family,” added Candace.
The process to becoming a billet family is fairly simple. First, a family applies for the program, and then they get a visit from Candace who explains the roles and responsibilities of bringing in a player.
Both the family and Candace have to agree that the family is suitable for the program before a player can be assigned.
“Their role is to mentor them, for a lot of these kids this is their first time living away from home. There are sometimes those issues to deal with, they can get pretty homesick,” Candace explained. “They act as role models to help guide them through the transition between minor hockey and Pontiac life.”
Candace would recommend anyone interested in giving it a try to do so, describing billeting as a rewarding experience for all involved.
“It's the best thing you can have. They become a part of your family and you become a part of their family,” she said. “It can be so rewarding.”
Over the years, her and her husband have billeted nine long-term players.
The benefit of billet families goes beyond the individual player.
Symington said they're the team's biggest fans and strongest supporters.
“Thank you to all of the billet families, particularly my own, for everything they did when I was in Bonnyville. It's a great experience for the players and the families. If there are any other families out there looking to do this, it's definitely a great experience.”
