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For junior hockey players, the rink is often their second home.
But the 16 to 20-year-old boys that play for CHL teams across North America need real beds, meals and homes during the hockey season as well.
The Kelowna Rockets bring players from all over North America and Europe to play hockey and once the boys are off the ice the team needs to arrange homes for their players.
“Leaving home and coming to a new team is definitely a big adjustment,” said Saskatchewan native and former Kelowna Rocket Rourke Chartier.
“I was placed in such a good billet family with the Cseks and that made it a lot easier to just focus on being at the rink and making the adjustment from midget to junior.”
During his time in Kelowna, Chartier played for Team Canada at the World Juniors in 2016 and now plays for the San Jose Shark’s AHL affiliate team, the San Jose Barracuda.
For families, taking a Rockets player into their home is an excellent way to give back to the community and the experience can be very rewarding.
"It’s a great way to pay it forward,” said Nikki Csek, who has hosted multiple Rockets' over the years including Madison Bowey and Michael Herringer.
“Our billets have been great with our family and as a parent knowing that the boys are taken care of is what I would want if I had to send my kids away.”
Potential billeting families can live in the Glenmore, Upper Mission, Black Mountain or anywhere in the Kelowna Secondary School catchment zone.
"People often asked how difficult it was driving the boys around and that is a misconception," said Csek. "The Rockets are really good at making sure players with licenses live around ones without so they can easily carpool."
Moving away from home to pursue their dreams is not easy for hockey players as young as 16.
But having a supportive billeting family is something the boys never forget.
"It was a great experience and the Cseks truly became a second family for me," said Chartier. "For family's deciding whether to billet, it's definitely a great opportunity and being willing to mentor and help a young hockey player achieve their goals is something they never forget!"
For those interested in becoming billets, email Rockets' Assistant Coach Kris Mallette at kris@kelownarockets.com.
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