Becoming a Merritt Centennials Billet Family

For many of us, our choice to move away from the family home was a decision made when we were in our late teens, or even twenties. If you think back, you will remember a lot of the anxiety that went along with this move. For a Junior A hockey player who leaves their family home to follow their dreams, they are not just leaving family and friends behind to go to a new city or town, but they are still expected to perform both on and off the ice in their new community. Without caring billet families to ease this transition, our young athletes, and future stars might never make the decisions they do to pursue their dreams.

The Billet Family experience in most cases becomes a lasting relationship between the player, the players family and the billet family. Our hockey players in the past have served as great role models not only in their community, but for younger family members who can learn from these players dedication and sacrifices to obtain their goals. Often the billet family through this experience have gained a 'new family member' who's career they can monitor, be it at the college, semi pro or even professional level.

To assist you, the Merritt Centennials have constructed and supply a "Billet Manual" that is used as a guide for players and family billets. We'd be glad to send you a copy. As an extra bonus and to say "Thank You", billets are financially compensated and also receive a seasons ticket for each member of the household to all Cents home games!

If you are interested in becoming a billet for a Cents hockey player please call our Billet Co-coordinator Andrea Barnes at 250-315-0229 or email topoftherock@live.ca.

The importance of billet families to the Merritt Centennials Hockey Club is immeasurable. Simply put, without the billet families we could not put a team on the ice. They provide an environment of support and trust. The Merritt Centennials appreciate the commitment, generosity and dedication of these fantastic people.