Accommodating athletes
Billeting players important consideration for Charlottetown Islanders, Western Capitals
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The opportunity to billet Summerside Maritime Junior Hockey League players provides many memories for Michael and Audra Macbeth.
The Macbeths, who have two grown children, have invited D. Alex Macdonald Ford Western Capitals players into their home for approximately eight years.
“It’s a big positive for both sides,” said Michael. “You are not having to look after a child; you’re helping to support a young adult succeed.”
MORE DIFFICULT
For the Capitals, Charlottetown Islanders and UPEI teams, finding housing – and the right situations – for athletes is vital.
The Caps and Islanders rely mostly on billets, although the Capitals own a house where players live. UPEI athletes live in residence, apartments or houses.
With a strong demand for housing in P.E.I., Saltwire contacted the Islanders, Caps and UPEI to see if – and how – things may have changed over the years when it comes to living accommodations for athletes.
“It seems to be a little bit more difficult right now (to find billets),” said Capitals general manager Pat Mciver. “There’s not a lot of money in billeting per se, and the costs have climbed quite a bit higher.
“It’s a different world we are in right now. Families are busy, kids are in sports, and to find that right fit for somebody to take somebody in is getting a lot harder.”
UNIVERSITY ATHLETES
At UPEI, accommodations are the responsibility of the student-athletes, but director of athletics and recreation Jane Vessey acknowledged coaches are heavily involved.
“If you think of it from a recruiting perspective, if we want them to land in P.E.I. and come play here, we have to make sure we have accommodations,” said Vessey. “We’ve definitely noticed a difference in the last couple of years since COVID in the prices going up for students.”
The Islanders, said volunteer billet co-ordinator Jonathan Oliver, require housing for 22 players during a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) season.
Oliver, who added some billets house more than one player, described the billet program as a great experience.
“Sometimes people are a little bit nervous to get involved because of the anticipated commitment,” said Oliver. “I’m not going to say there isn’t a commitment because there is, but the commitment is certainly outweighed by the relationships you build with the players.
“In a lot of cases, some of these players are part of lifelong people in your family.”
For the 2023-24 MHL season, Mciver said the Caps required 12 beds. Mciver said that number usually falls between eight and 12.
COSTS HIGH
Mciver said with the rise in the cost of food and healthy appetites of 16- to 20-yearolds, the Caps have increased billet per diems considerably in recent years.
“But, even still, it’s not a money-making proposition for families,” said Mciver. “Basically, if you are a billet
family, you can’t be in it for the money.”
Mciver said a selling feature is the bigbrother aspect where a family may have young children playing hockey.
The Caps and Islanders have a nice mix of long-term billets and new ones.
“Essentially, we always tell them treat the player like one of your own family members; they need to abide by your house rules,” said Oliver. “Depending on the billet family, there is some of those life lessons. Some of the billet families will say to the player, ‘Do you need me, for example, to do your laundry and things like that?
“Some (players) will do their own. They are expected to keep their room clean, tidy and everything.”
ONE OF THE FAMILY
The Macbeths enjoy having young adults around and encourage their billets to bring home their friends. Michael added the players are always polite and well-mannered.
“You have a personal stake in games because when we have a billet in it’s almost like if our own son was playing for the Caps,” said Michael.
Audra enjoys watching the billets develop into young men.
“I picture it as my own boys being gone and (with the players) going to different areas, they need somewhere to feel comfortable and we like providing that,” said Audra.
Caps forward Trent Crane billeted with the Macbeths the last two seasons.
“He’s part of the family,” said Michael. “We’ve met both his parents; we’ve met his grandparents; he is actually staying at our place until he leaves in mid- to late-july to go to school at Lakehead (University) in Thunder Bay. The bond is definitely there, and it has been there with a lot of players.”
LONG FRIENDSHIPS
The Macbeths keep in touch with all their billets over the years, including those who only had a short-term stay.
The couple also involves billets in the local neighbourhood.
“After Fiona, Trent was out helping us help the neighbours cleaning up their trees, or if we had a neighbour who was ill, they would come over and help them get in and out of their vehicle and things like that,” said Audra. “Hockey players, when they leave home, they don’t have those interactions with their family.
“It’s better for their mental health as well to keep them in a family atmosphere and a community atmosphere.”
“You are not having to look after a child; you’re helping to support a young adult succeed.” Michael Macbeth