BENEFITS OF BEING A HOST FAMILY

Welcoming a junior hockey player into your home is a lot like hosting an exchange student — but with a whole lot more excitement, team spirit, and lifelong memories. Our players come from all over the country (and sometimes the world) to chase their dream, and billet families play a crucial role in helping them succeed both on and off the ice.

By opening your heart and home, you become an essential part of a young athlete’s journey. Billet families provide stability, support, and a “home-away-from-home” that helps these players grow as people, students, and teammates. Many billets and players form bonds that last well beyond their time with the Blue Ox.

Each billet family receives a monthly housing fee from the player or their family, which helps cover housing needs and three meals a day. Our players are mature, independent young adults who balance a demanding schedule — practices, games, classes, and part-time work (typically around 15 hours per week). This means they are busy, focused, and motivated, with limited downtime.

If you’re interested in making a meaningful impact while gaining a new member of the family, becoming a billet is one of the most rewarding ways to support the Blue Ox.

Become a Blue Ox Host Family!

The first step to becoming a host family is to contact us! Our CEO, Nick Zawacki, will guide you through the process. He will provide you with our Blue Ox Billet Questionnaire to help match you with the right player for your family. All billet family members are required to complete a Safe Sport USA Hockey background screening for eligibility.

📩 Email Nick Zawacki at nick@blueoxhockey.com

Join us in making a difference in a young athlete’s life!