The South Shore Mustangs Billet Family program

Without billet families the South Shore Mustangs could not put a team on the ice. It is difficult for a midget hockey player to move away from home.  The Mustangs are unique in that they are the only team in the NSMMHL that requires billet families year after year.   Billet families make this transition easier by welcoming players into their homes.

We take the utmost care to ensure our players are placed in environments that are conducive to care, understanding and safety. It is important that the player respects the rules of his host family and the host family respects the rules of the hockey club. The values and principles for success that are essential to become a member of the South Shore Mustangs will be demanded at the rink, in the home, in the community and in school.

When a family volunteers to house a member of the team, they are required to provide room and board for the player.  This includes:

•        Provide 3 nutritious meals and snacks to the player. Meals should be wholesome and varied. Flexibility on behalf of billets and players is needed in this area. Players do not need to eat steak everyday!!! Billets should talk with the player and determine his preferences in foods and time to eat. Pre-game meals are important, on average, players should eat 3-4 hours before a game, but this may vary. If no one is home and the player cannot prepare his own meal then plans to reheat a meal should be made.

•        Support, Communications and Understanding are vital. The key to success will be communication. Make sure you talk to your player about expectations. Things that are not acceptable in your home may have been in theirs, unless addressed, little things may develop into big problems.

•        The hockey team enforces curfew and rules on alcohol and banned substances; this is addressed to the entire team during training camp.

•        Girlfriends are expected to leave at curfew; girlfriends are not allowed in the player's bedrooms. Handle this subject pertaining to your house rules. Please notify the club if problems arise from this.

•        Players are not permitted to leave the town without permission from the Coach/General Manager.

•        If you are going away for vacation, please notify the Coach and accommodations will be provided for your player.

•        Arrange long distance phone calls with your player, as payment will be their responsibility.

•        The Hockey Club will provide transportation in some cases if possible, but there may be some instances when you would have to drive your player to the arena etc.

•        Billets Families will receive remuneration weekly.  Typically it is $100.00 a week but this can be worked out between billet family and players family.  Billet Families also receive 2 season tickets. Host families have included traditional 2-parent families and "empty nesters".  All that's really needed is a willingness to help a player pursue his dream by providing a "home away from home".

 Expectations of the players when billeted:

•        Respect the billet family and their generosity

•        Your billet family's belongings should always be treated with utmost care.

•        Be pleasant, courteous and helpful at all times.

•        Long distance phone costs will be your responsibility.

•        Players are to stay at their own billets home each night unless they have been given specific permission from the coaching staff. If this has been arranged you must notify your billets.

•        Please inform your billets if you will not be home for dinner.

•        Please keep your room tidy and clean.

•        Education is very important and you must attend school.

•        It is not an expectation for a billet to supply you with a computer.

In reality not every player/family match will be met with success. Sometimes expectations/chemistry might be lacking and the player requests to be moved or the billets request a change. If this happens we will make our best attempt towards making the necessary changes to ensure that everyone is happy and comfortable. Communication regarding this is very important and must be addressed. Billets have been interviewed and have met the requirements but at the same time problems can arise, if this is not communicated we have no idea a problem exists.

Your willingness to "rise up" and to help these young athletes achieve their goals and aspirations of one day making the professional or college hockey ranks will be an everlasting experience. By sharing your home, families, and time a billet family will build a lasting relationship with the player, organization, and community. 

For more information or to become a billet family, please contact Head Coach Brogan Bailey coach@ssmustangs.ca