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Being an Oil Caps Billet Family:

The good, the bad and the hockey

 

When asked what is the best part of being a billet family for the Virden Oil Capitals, Tricia Studer didn’t know where to begin or how she could pick just one facet.

“The best part is probably knowing we are helping others,” said Studer, whose family is billeting Kelowna’s Jeran Knorr for a second straight season. “I’m a person that is always looking for ways to show my kids that ‘stuff’ isn’t what this life is all about and this has been an awesome example for them.

“First off, we are helping our community! And secondly, we are helping another family. Our billet’s family is very far away and they are always thanking us for all we do for him. It’s nice to know we can do something so little and give a mother miles away so much peace.”

Billet families are very important to the Oil Capitals players, the organization, and the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. They provide players with a home away from home. Rookie Jayden Wojciechowski lived at home in Thunder Bay playing midget AAA before joining the Oil Caps for this season.

“My billet family has helped me adjust to Junior A by making it easy to feel welcome into their home and always being supportive,” said the defenceman who lives with Tara and Perry Meikle. “They treat me as if I was one of their kids and help me out with anything I need just like my parents would. My billet family is great and has made moving away from home and adjusting to Junior A hockey easy for me.”

Murray and Cheryl Foster, who billet LaSalle’s Ben Dalke,said they love hockey and billeting keeps them involved; the family meets lots of wonderful people.

As of mid-December, the Oil Capitals had 20 billet families. On a regular basis, there are usually 23 billet homes per season, billet coordinator Teresa Heritage said. Heritage, who has been a coordinator and billet mom since the inaugural Oil Caps season in 2012-2013, said billet family situations range from two-parent families with children to single moms to a single man to semi-retired billets.

Important to Team

Oil Capitals head coach Troy Leslie said that billet families are very important. He noted the Virden families take good care of the players and the team receives positive comments about them. Former Western Hockey League player and coach Jamie Hodson, the team’s director of business and hockey operations, said the Virden families are some of the best billets he has been around.

“Billets are integral to the success of our hockey club on and off the ice,” Hodson said. “They are an extended team off the ice and mentor our players for what life will be like as they leave the hockey world. We are very blessed as a team to have outstanding billets.” 

Heritage, who billets Kyle Salaway, said that each billet family receives a monthly stipend and season tickets. The team hosts a couple of events each season to recognize and show appreciation for billet families. It is often the connections that are formed that are the most rewarding aspect of billeting.

“The best part of being a billet family is building relationships with new people,” said Angie Rhodes, whose family is billeting Kolten Kanaski of Beausejour for a second season. “The connections you make with these boys and their families are bonds you will keep for a life time. They become a part of you and your worries for them are the same as they are for your own children. The opportunity to invest in these boys’ lives is incredible. You watch them grow and develop their games on the ice.  And off the ice you see them be a great part of our community.”

One of the Kids

Kathi and Doug Gatey billet Gimli’s Jack Einarson. The couple said he is like a brother to their grown daughter who lives in town.

Candace Bueche said her 11-year-old son Alex and Oil Caps goalie Riley McVeigh of Calgary, who she billets, are best friends. Bueche and Shelby Rampton, who billets Waskada’s Justin Lee, said the players make great role models for their children. Rampton said they tease, play and visit with each other like siblings.
“We forever have another member of our family and can’t wait to follow his accomplishments in life on and off the ice,” Rampton said.

The relationships the billet families form are not only with the players in their home. Bueche said that through four years of billeting her family has met wonderful people in not only the player but also their teammates and their families that he becomes friends with. Tight friendships often form with the player’s family.

“Their parents need the reassurance that their sons are being looked after,” said Hargrave’s Greg and Cathy Tough, who have been billeting since the team came to town. “The relationship we have with the parents is almost as strong as with the players. The trust has to be there.”

Strong Bonds

The relationships formed can last long after the players’ time in Virden is over. Karen Forster, who billets Winnipeg’s Hunter Cloutier, said her family travels to watch former billets play elsewhere and keeps in touch with all of the players who have lived with them for the five years they have been billeting.

The Toughs, who billet Elma’s Kirklan Lycar and Russell’s Landyn Cochrane, said the friendships developed through billeting will always be with them.

“We have always tried to keep in touch with our past billets,” said Shawna Smith-

Barre, who billets Teulon’s Brayden Pawluk. “Some want to keep that relationship going. Some don’t pursue anything more. You just take it as it is and hope the best for them.”

One thing that is for certain is that billet families help their players in a variety of ways.

“Being a billet family is great because we have gained an extra family member, and we are giving him an opportunity to grow, become independent, focus on his hockey, and hopefully enjoy his time with a new family,” said Debra Plaisier, whose family is billeting Dylan Thiessen for the fourth straight season.

Thiessen, who is from Winnipeg, and the other Oil Capitals certainly appreciate their billet families.

“We can't thank our billets enough for everything they do for us all year,” Thiessen said. “So much of what they do goes unnoticed to many people but without them our team would not be able to function and have the success that we do.” 

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