Becoming a Billet

A billet family provides a home away from home for a Minnesota Wilderness player throughout the NAHL hockey season, which typically runs from September through April. During these eight months, players become part of their host family’s daily life, sharing meals, participating in household routines, and building lasting relationships.

Billet families often develop close bonds with their players that extend far beyond the hockey season. Players become part of the family, spending time with billet siblings, attending their games and activities, and enjoying everyday moments together at home. These relationships can become lifelong connections, with many billet families staying in touch with their players long after their time with the Wilderness has ended.

Open communication, mutual respect, and clear expectations are essential to a successful billet experience. Players are expected to communicate respectfully with their billet families and follow all household rules. By welcoming a player into their home, billet families play an important role in helping young athletes feel supported, comfortable, and at home while pursuing their hockey goals.

Billet families provide more than just a place to sleep. We ask that families welcome their Minnesota Wilderness player into their home, provide daily meals, and include them in family life throughout the hockey season.

NAHL players range in age from 16 to 20 and come with varying levels of independence and experience. Some have played in the league and lived with billet families before, while others may be living away from home for the first time. Your support, guidance, and hospitality can make a meaningful difference in helping each player adjust to life in a new community.

To help cover grocery expenses, billet families receive $400 per player per month.

Players are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the arena and providing their own cell phones. As members of the Minnesota Wilderness organization, players are also expected to follow team standards and conduct rules that apply at the arena, in public, and within their billet homes.

Above all, we encourage billet families to create a welcoming, supportive environment where players feel at home, build meaningful relationships, and focus on their development both on and off the ice.