Trisha Danielson, Billet Supervisor
The Crusaders Hockey Team does more than create a dynamic playing environment for their players. The Billet program in Hudson has been sponsoring great players, giving them the opportunity to meet local families and acquiring lifelong bonds.
A Billet program has been used in Canada since the 1950’s so young players could play on teams in bigger communities. Today, players in the Junior Hockey League may stay in apartment or house settings where whole teams live together with their managers. In addition players may also stay with host families. Last season Hudson hosted 17 players with 15 families.
Most host families live in or near to Hudson, allowing a small commute for the players to the arena. Sometimes two players will live with one host family if the situation is more convenient. In this case it is easier if the family has limited transportation or multiple responsibilities. Players pay $350 a month.
Organizing the Billet Program is important in the success of the player’s and host family’s experience. Because the number of families has increased from 10 to 15 in the last season, a Billet Supervisor is needed to provide guidance and support in matching players with host families. In the past, Deb Johnson and Jayne Cernohous have held this position.
Trisha Danielson, a Hudson resident, is the current Billet Supervisor for the Hudson Crusaders. Through her membership of various hockey committees and her husband’s participation on the Arena Management Board she found out about the billet program. She also has two children who play with the Hudson Hockey Association. She and her husband became a host family in 2009 and found the experience to be extremely rewarding. The strong bonds that she and her husband formed with their player will be eternal.
Shortly thereafter she became the Billet Supervisor. She felt that her serving nature would be a useful tool in educating and exposing other potential host families to the amazing opportunities that the Billet program provides.
Trisha had this to say about her duties:
“As the Billet Supervisor I look for families that are caring, sensitive and nurturing. Families should have time to spend with their players as well as be active in supporting them in their hockey endeavors. In short, families should take every opportunity to make their player feel like a member of the family.”
In addition to her position as Billet Supervisor, Trisha works for the Andersen Corporation in the Marketing Department. She also participates in other volunteer programs in the community. As the season starts she will be there to head the Billet Program, adding valuable and extraordinary influence to the benefit of the Crusaders Team and the community.
For more information about the Billet Program, click on the documents at the bottom of the page.
article by Amanda Marie Liesinger
