Avs in search of host families

PALMER — In less than a month, nearly two dozen high school and college-aged hockey players will arrive in Palmer to take the ice for the Alaska Avalanche Tier II Junior A hockey franchise.

There are few who are from Alaska, many who or not. Regardless of where they came from, they’ll call Palmer home from August through April. Some of these players are still need an actual home to live in during their stay in Palmer.

The Avalanche organization is currently looking for billet families for several of the players slated to play during the 2010-11 season.

Avalanche director of billeting Andrew Good said the billet, or host, families are vital to the success of not only the individual players, but the team. These families provide a safe environment, Good said.

The team does have certain requirements for its host families, such as a the ability to provide a separate bedroom and three balanced meals per day. A monthly stipend of $300 per player is paid to the host family by the team to cover additional food expense.

Host families are not required to provide daily transportation for the players, and players are responsible for expenses beyond the cost of food.

Good said the team sets specific rules.

“There are very strict curfews, very strict guidelines,” Good said.

According to the team’s billet information, players are required to call the assistant coach from their host family’s home every evening before curfew. Good said players are also not allowed to have girlfriends at the home of their host family, and each player is expected to adhere to any household rules.

Good said the team sees to it that players make constructive use of their time off the ice.

“They aren’t going to be just a bunch of Xbox’ers,” Good said. “These kids will be very involved in the community.”

Good said the team would like a pair of players matched with a single host family, and with the team’s recent move to Palmer, the Avalanche would like to have host families live in the Palmer area, but that is not absolutely required.

In addition to the stipend, families also receive a complementary season ticket for each player hosted. Beyond that, Good said hosting a junior hockey player is often a good experience for fans with youth hockey players.

“(The young players) really look up to the older boys,” Good said.

Host families often create lasting relationships with the junior players.

“So many billet families end up being part of (the players’ families) for so many years down the road,” Good said.

Those interested in potentially hosting an Avalanche player are asked to contact Good at akavalanche@me.com or 355-8031. Additional information can be found at http://alaskaavalanche.pointstreaksites.com/view/alaskaavalanche.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.