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OCTOBER 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 35 b e t t er h i m s e l f a s a p er s on a n d , m o s t importantly, represent our countr y was an honor and privilege, and we are proud to say that we had a ha nd in th is ma n's g row th, both as a person a nd as a n ath- l e t e ," s a y s K r i s t a Mc K i n l e y, w h o h a s hos t e d s ever a l t a lent e d you ng ho ckey players at USA Hockey 's Nationa l Team Development Program, including Spencer Knight and Jeremy Wilmer. Host fa m i l ies come in a l l shapes a nd si zes. T hey ra nge f rom ret i red , empt y nesters to young families w ith toddlers a nd ever y t h i ng i n bet ween . One t h i ng they all have in common is their self less- ness. They do not do it for fame and for- tune, they do so with the hope of growing their family to include a young player who aspires to become successful both on and off the ice. Host fa milies prov ide emotiona l sup- port, meals and a safe haven for the player t o ret u r n t o at t he end of a long d ay of school, training and practice. They act as sounding boards as hockey players learn to successfully make their way on a new team, with a new coach and in a new com- munit y. W hile they ca n never replace a player's parents and siblings, they are the next best thing. " We beca me a host fa mily as a way to pay it forward to the hockey community, which we've been a part of since our oldest son began playing eight years ago," says Karen Springer, who was a billet for Devin Kaplan. " We've met so many wonderful families and people through this commu- nity who've helped us along in all sorts of ways. It just felt natura l to open up our lives and home to someone else along their hockey journey. "It's an added bonus that our two sons have a well-adjusted, hard-working, respon- sible and dedicated 'big brother' to look up to who loves hockey as much as they do. It's a win-win." As players prepare to move in with a new family, they are often filled with angst and apprehension. They have questions like: Will they be nice? Will we get along? Will I like what they cook? What are the rules? Will I have to do chores? The answer to these questions is almost always YES. "It's a little awkward for everyone when the kids first move in…it takes a little time to figure each other out," says Ann Ryan, who opened her home to Ryan Siedem and A ida n H reschu k . "T he player isn't t he only one adapting, we're adjusting how we function as a family to best support him. But we get there. And it's worth it." In my experience of working with host families for 18 years, billet families open their homes because they care and want to support athletes that aspire to compete on a high level. They will do their best to welcome a player into their home, provide for their needs, support them while play- ing w ith their loca l team and help them grow into responsible young men. Billet families have to jump through a number of hoops, including completing Welcoming a young man into our home who wants to hone his hockey skills, better himself as a person and most importantly represent our country was an honor and privilege...."