WHAT IS “BILLETING”?
“Billeting” is a hockey tradition and is especially important at the junior level of hockey. This concept involves local host families providing a home to out-of-state or out-of-country players for the hockey season. The billet program also allows these young men to complete their high school educations, take college preparatory classes, obtain part-time employment and/or volunteer in the local community while pursuing the next step in their hockey careers.
This program can be a rewarding experience for players, families and parents. It can introduce and nurture beautiful long lasting relationships.
If you are considering this for your family, or for your own local Junior Hockey team, please consider it strongly. It can be a truly meaningful and wonderful experience.
Here are some images of some of our local players and host families.
My Dad had the worlds biggest heart. He loved hockey, played College Football at the University of Bridgeport, and coached baseball. But to him… it wasnt as much about the sport he was coaching but the athletes. The humans he was helping. So in honor of this post on Host Families and Billeting, here is an excerpt from my book “Lessons from Dad: a son looks back on a lifetime of lessons from Rick Trimble”. Hope you enjoy.
The House Guest
14 years old and originally from New York but now living in the Poconos, Oktay Armagan’s father signed him up for hockey camp at the Ocean Ice Palace for 2 weeks. 2 weeks with Rick Trimble for the full hockey experience in Brick, New Jersey.
The 60’s era dormitory at the Ocean Ice Palace had everything a kid in the 80s and 90s needed. Bunk bed sleeping in large open rooms. A common room with TV and wooden box loveseats. Tiled reststop- style bathrooms at the end of each of the sleeping sections. Adjacent counselor quarters located to the northwest corner of the building. Landscaping provided by Doctor Dwulet and his ride- on mower.
What it didn’t have was many kids who stayed for 2 weeks overnight.
When this situation arose, Rick would hire a counselor or two to work in shifts monitoring and amusing the campers for the 24 hours when one weeklong camp would end and the other would begin. Maybe take them to nearby Seaside Beach or Point Pleasant. Order pizza and watch a movie at the dorms. For 14 year old Oktay however, an enthusiastic and hard working young player, his 2 week stay only had him slated for the 24 hour camp- break. 1 kid for the overnight.
So he moved Oktay in with his family on Wyckoff Ave.
This wasnt Rick’s first or last house swap. If a kid needed a place to stay, Rick’s son had bunk beds in his room, and he was willing to share. Cousins. Friends of friends. Matt Fritz, a hockey player from Point Pleasant. This house was a joint venture. If someone needs something; a meal, a phone call, a book from Rick’s library, hockey equipment (which he swapped with people in the garage), tutoring, a place to stay… Rick and Jean would, if they could, provide it.
Oktay’s adventure started with shooting pucks towards the net near the garage. Rick’s son, only a few years younger, watching how Oktay shot. Oktay shot harder. Dinner by Jean, then off to the Garden State games high school showcase played at nearby American Hockey and Ice Skating Center, the new twin sheet rink built in Farmingdale up the shore from Brick. Dick Trimble, Rick’s father, was waiting there helping to organize the event with his friends Tony Mariconda and Paul Macinnis. So was Ken Daneyko, Mr Devil. Ken Daneyko played over 1200 games in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils. Only the New Jersey Devils. Three Stanley Cups, a Masterson Trophy, a Jersey retired, Dano’s own #3, and a meeting with Oktay Armagan that summer night.
When Oktay left the following morning, to head back to hockey camp in Brick, life had changed. Small ripples but a lasting impact.
Rick and Oktay communicated often. A lifetime. Helping and providing guidance when needed, providing input into how to further his hockey playing career… any subject. If one door closed, Oktay’s hard work and dedication helped to open another, and if Rick could provide an introduction he would. Anything to help Oak. When Oktay’s father passed in his early twenties, Rick’s family opened their hope to Oktay for holidays. When Rick started coaching at Rider University, Oktay transferred and became part of the team. Oktay was part of this family. Oktay would ask questions and Rick provided advice. On the phone, at the rink, or anytime he needed it.
When Rick retired from Manasquan High School and left Rider University hockey, Oktay hired Rick to work with his Freehold Hockey program, a start-up High School program in western Monmouth County. Oktay involved Rick with his New Jersey Raiders program too. Rick would comment to his son later… “Oktay and Freehold was one of the only organizations that paid me to coach hockey.”
Rick Trimble did this often, just because he often thought the easiest thing to do was also the right thing to do.
When future NHL Head Coach Derek LaLonde was a young college assistant coach, he worked for my father at the Ocean Hockey School in Brick, NJ, and would do hockey coaching seminars for Rick Trimble and his friends at the house on 76 Wyckoff Avenue. Systems, drills, culture… everything about hockey.
When Rick’s grandchildren became involved and interested in softball, Rick put up a batting cage in the backyard (where the shed and my hockey shooting range used to be) to help teach them how to hit, catch, pitch and throw.
The house at 76 Wyckoff Avenue almost never had parties, but frequently had guests. It was a landing place for people to arrive and feel welcome. Some would stay for an hour, others could stay for a week (or longer). This included pets. Whether it be Rick’s beloved Marlo, the untrustworthy Sebastian, DeNiro, Slow Jack or any assortment of cats, Rick was willing to take animals that were left on his doorstep by others and provide food, shelter, and a friendly wrestling match after dinner. He housed multitudes of pets, but never purchased more than one or two in his life.
Chris Mullaney was a normal boy all through grammar school that Rick knew from Spring Lake Recreation. Fun, smart, athletic and from a large local family that everyone knew. When Chris was diagnosed with a mental health condition in his high school years he changed dramatically. He became ritualized and obsessed. He lost that natural charisma that he and his siblings shared. Socially awkward and nervous, Chris would revisit the same spots and seek out the same people who made him feel comfortable. People that he could engage in a conversation with and feel at peace with his shared common ground. People from the childhood that he recalled fondly. So, Chris called my Father. A lot. He left messages on the antiquated message machine. He rode his bike past the house in hopes of seeing Rick reading a book on the front porch. He went to the gym at the same time as his son, just to try to make small talk, about Rick Trimble. Rick Trimble never told him to stop. My Dad never cut off the conversations. He was there to listen, support and smile. This made Chris feel good, and he always came back. For 30 years. He was always a welcome guest.
Opening your home says everything about you. Sharing your world and finding common humanity spreads love, care and kindness with others. Compassion is an understanding that we all depend on one another, and that no life is without value.
Link to Purchase a copy of “Lessons from Dad” here – Amazon.com: Lessons from Dad: A Son Looks Back on a Lifetime of Lessons from Rick Trimble eBook : Trimble, Andrew: Kindle Store
Andrew Trimble is the General Manager and Co- Owner of the New England Wolves Hockey Club. He is also the Owner of Scoring Concepts LLC, a New Hampshire based hockey training company that offers camps, clinics, private lessons and teams. He has coached at all levels from Learn to Skate to College Hockey. For more info on his teams and programs check out- www.scoringconcepts.com or www.ne-wolveshockey.com
