The BCHL and Save-On-Foods have partnered to recognize billet families from across the league for going the extra mile to support BCHL players off the ice with the Billet Family of the Week award.
Throughout the season, we will be going pod-by-pod to recognize one billet family from each team and the outstanding work they do to support junior hockey in their community.
Save-On-Foods will donate a $100 grocery gift card card to each of the families honoured as BCHL Billets of the Week.
The pandemic has made things much more challenging for players and their billet families this year, so the BCHL and Save-On-Foods could not be happier to recognize just a few of these great people in our communities.
This week, we will go around the Alberni Pod to find our winners.
Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Family: Larry & Nancy Doucette
Billets since: 2005
Current billeted players: Stephen Castagna & Josh Van Unen
Quote:
“We welcomed our first billet into our home back in 2005 for what we thought was a short-term favour for a family friend. Little did we know how much we’d enjoy it! Fast forward to 2021, we’ve happily been “billet parents” to over 40 different players. Serving as a billet family has been an incredible, enjoyable and rewarding part of our lives.
It’s so much more than just feeding them and providing a roof over their heads. It’s about caring for them, supporting them and helping them pursue their hopes and dreams. They really become a part of your family.
We enjoy keeping in touch with our former billets to follow their careers and lives (our players span from San Francisco to Denmark and Switzerland) and enjoy welcoming them and their families back “home” for visits in Port Alberni in the summers.”
-Larry & Nancy Doucette
Cowichan Valley Capitals
Family: Lorelei Paddle & Lloyd Roger
Billets since: 2012
Current billeted players: Owen Philps, Kian Calder, Joey Moffat, Logan Rands, Lucas Pfeil & Jackson Alexeev
Quote:
“We find billeting for the Capitals is a great way to support local hockey. Meeting these young men and their families often ends in lifelong relationships and is so rewarding in so many ways. It is an honour and a privilege to be able to support local hockey.”
-Lorelei Paddle & Lloyd Roger
Nanaimo Clippers
Family: Gina & Kevin Godley
Billets since: 2018
Current billeted player: Daniel O’Neil
Quote:
“Being a Clippers billet family has been a great experience for us. It’s been a hard year for everyone and these athletes have worked hard and not given up. I could go into great detail on my years of having these boys in my home, but at the end of the day, our lives were fulfilled in having a Nanaimo Clippers hockey player. We have been spectators, cooks, confidants and a cheering squad from our living rooms on HockeyTV. It’s never dull! These boys came into our home and became a part of it. We all benefited from the experience – what a gift! Nanaimo Clippers – thanks so much for sharing these boys!”
-Gina & Kevin Godley
Victoria Grizzlies
Family: Deborah Mantell
Billets since: 2010
Current billeted player: Jake Veilleux, Reid Lindsay & Matteo Turrin
Quote:
“Deb and her late husband Colin started billeting over 10 years ago. They have been a steadfast and amazing billet family every season since. The Mantells have had nearly 30 players stay with them at some point during the last 10 seasons.
No billet family ever does it for the money or the glory. It is simply a love of the game and the boys that come through their doors. Junior hockey would not survive without our billet families! Thank you to them all!”
-Sheryl Williamson, Billet Coordinator, Victoria Grizzlies
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Save-On-Foods is excited to celebrate the commitment of Billet Families across the BCHL. These unsung heroes of junior hockey provide caring, safe and supportive homes for hundreds of young athletes in pursuit of their dreams. Save-On-Foods salutes these amazing members of our communities for ‘Going the Extra Mile’ to keep junior hockey thriving in B.C. To find a store near you or shop online, visit SaveOnFoods.com.
