HOUSING

Wooster Oilers’ Billet Campaign Under Way

The Wooster Oilers’ billet campaign is under way for the 2013 – 2014 season.  Billeting is open to Wayne County residents with the greatest need within the Wooster City School District.

The Oilers’ players come from all over the US with the league allowing 2 players to come from outside the US.  The Oilers carry a team roster of 25 players so the need for ‘host families’ is very important.

As a billet family: 

• You provide a 'home away from home' for these young men.
• Players range in age from 16-20 year olds and play hockey at the pre-college, junior level.
• The season lasts from mid September through March with the boys arriving mid to late August for conditioning camp.
• A monthly stipend of $350.00 per player is paid to the billet family.
• We like to place two players in each household if possible.
• Billet families receive free tickets for regular season home games.
• A qualified family provides room and board as well as guidance and care.  YOU are their virtual parents/family while staying in your home.

If you are interested and would like more information in helping out a young man, his family, and The Wooster Oilers, please fill out our Billet Application listed below.  You can fill out the application on line or down load and mail to:

Deb  Conrad

12150 East Lincolnway

Orrville, Ohio 44667

YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED IN BECOMING A BILLET BY FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION.  THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT YOU TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IN HELPING YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION OF BECOMING A WOOSTER OILERS BILLET.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of the Wooster Oilers family!

 GO OILERS!!!!

Billeting Overview

Billet family responsibilites will begin mid to late August when the players begin to arrive for camp and will last through the end of April 2014 for post season play or later if you house a high school age player that opts to complete their school year here.  The regular playing season ends at the end of March 2014.  There are generally two breaks when players return home, one at Thanksgiving and the other for Christmas.  Players will also be absent during MnJHL Showcases and away game weekends.  These breaks are dependent upon the MnJHL game schedule.

In addition to the schedule, the Oilers will provide Billet fFamilies with the Billet Family Handbook along with a copy of the Player Handbook, a Personal Infomation Sheet which will provide you with important data about your player(s), and a Billet Contact List with the names, addresses, emails and phone numbers of all the players and billets.

Below is a summary of information a family needs to know before deciding to commit to the experience of billeting players from the Wooster Oilers Junior Hockey Team.

1.  We like to place two players in each home.  We find this works the best for both the players and the Billet family.  The players will need to have their own room(s).  Down time and privacy are very important to their mental and physical well-being.

2.  Each billet family receives a monthly stipend to help cover the players' grocery expenses.  Your monthly food bill will increase as it will be your responsibility to make sure the players' nourishment is provided for.  The player and his family are responsible for covering his own personal needs (clothing, medical, spending money, etc.).  Please be aware that players have a fairly large food requirement because of the physical demands of junior hockey.

3.  Your players may want to bring their own cars to drive.  If they do not have a car(s), the players will carpool with another player in the vicinity.  (This would include transportation to and from school, practice, games, etc.)

4.  Although you are not the players' parents, you will need to set rules and expectations for them to follow while they are living in your home.  The players must respect your house rules and be accountable if they don't follow them.  Likewise, they need to follow the code of conduct set forth by the coach for the team which is included in the Players Handbook.

5.  You will receive complimentary tickets for all regular season home games.  This includes your immediate family members who live in your home.  You also receive the aforementioned stipend but the greatest rewards are the intangible ones!  All of our Billet families will tell you their lives and the lives of their family members have been enriched because of the relationship they've established with players and their families.

While the billet experience is, for the most part, a positive and enriching one, occasionally the situation does arise where the players or player/fBillet family match does not work out.  Sometimes chemistry or expectations might be lacking and results in a relationship that cannot continue in a positive manner for one or both parties involved.  In that event, the Oilers will do whatever we can to make the necessary changes so that the player, his parents and the Billet family are happy and comfortable with their arrangements.

Please consider the above information, and if you are interested in billeting players, please fill out a Billet Family Application and submit it.  This does not obligate you to becoming a Billet - it just gives us information to contact you to schedule an interview and discuss any further questions you may have.  The family members living in your home should be present for the interview.  Should you decide to become a Wooster Oilers Billet Family, the Oilers will request a background check on all adults living in your home as required by MnJHL and USA Hockey.  The Wooster Oilers organization pays for the background checks.

Thank you for your interest in the Wooster Oilers Billeting program.