RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Badlands Sabres junior hockey team is calling on the local community to step up and support young athletes by becoming billet families, a vital piece of the program that helps players chase their dreams far from home.
McKenzie Quigley, billet coordinator for the Sabres, says players ages 16 to 21 arrive in Rapid City from across the country. These young athletes need local families willing to welcome them into their homes during the hockey season. “They come in as strangers and leave as family,” Quigley said.
Billet families provide more than just food and shelter. They serve as a support system, offering guidance, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. Families are expected to treat the players like their own children. That means offering home-cooked meals, a comfortable living space, and the everyday care and attention a teenager or young adult might need while living away from home.
Families do not have to alter their routines or lifestyles. Instead, the players are expected to adapt to the household they join. “The only difference is you have a 16 to 20 year old hockey player living with you,” said Coach Brooks Mitzel. “You do not change how you live your life. The players come in and fit into your home.”
Host families must complete background checks and SafeSport training through USA Hockey. To help cover the costs of hosting, families receive financial compensation to assist with groceries and other expenses. Once placed, the players become part of the household. For families with young children, the experience often becomes even more meaningful. “The mentorship is amazing,” Quigley said. “When they leave, your kids miss them. Everybody kind of cries.”
Mitzel said the billet program is essential for the team’s operations. “Without these billet families, our organization doesn’t work. We cannot recruit players if we cannot house them,” he explained. Players are reminded each season to respect and appreciate their host families because the entire team depends on them.
Currently, the Sabres are in urgent need of at least one host family. Ideally, they would like to secure four or five additional homes to serve as backup placements for trades or mid-season transitions.
To learn more or sign up to become a billet family, visit the Badlands Sabres website or Facebook page. Families can also email info@badlandssabres.com for more information.
“If you have ever thought about doing this,” Quigley said, “now is the time.”
