Collingwood Blues players will be arriving at the end of the summer and some of them are looking for a place to stay while they're here.
Susie Saunderson, the billet coordinator for the Blues, said she’s looking for homes for 18 players.
The Collingwood Blues is a Junior ‘A’ team based in Collingwood that was established in 2019.
The team’s roster includes players from around Ontario between the ages of 16 and 20 years old.
“I’m looking for warm, welcoming hosts that will welcome a player, or two if possible, into their families,” said Saunderson. “And it helps support the player if their host family is somewhat interested in hockey … and has enthusiasm about what they’re striving to do on their hockey journey.”
The incoming players will need homes starting Labour Day weekend, and lasting until the end of May at the latest. The season length depends on the team’s performance in post-season games.
“They need to have their own room with at least a double or queen size bed, and hosts need to provide food for three meals a day,” said Saunderson.
She and her husband, Mayor Brian Saunderson, have been hosting players for the last two years.
“I really enjoy having young people around,” she said. “We have three boys and they all played rep hockey in Collingwood. We’re big hockey people and our boys are out of the house so we have space.”
Susie Saunderson is in charge of matching players with hosts by coordinating the billet program. When someone is interested in becoming a billet she will provide information to them, help them book a criminal record check for the adults in the household, and visit the home and room where the player will be staying.
“I want to find a family that, if it was one of our three boys, I’d feel comfortable having them there,” she said.
Host families will receive $500 per player, per month in compensation as well as season tickets to home games.
Hosts are responsible for providing a room and food, but the players arrange their own transportation for training and practice and travel as a team to games.
“They like to live with another player, so if anyone has a situation at home where they can take two players, that would be super,” said Saunderson.
While some of the team members will be attending high school in person, most have graduated. Some will be working part-time jobs or attending virtual school in addition to regular on- and off-ice training.
“They are very busy, they’re not doing a lot of sitting around lingering at the house,” said Saunderson.
Anyone who is interested in hosting a Blues player in their home can reach out to Saunderson via email at [email protected].
She said she’d like to start the process sooner rather than later and is asking those interested to email by mid-July.
Blues practices are scheduled to begin in September with the season starting Oct. 1.
