Canmore Eagles up cash for billets to house hockey players

BOW VALLEY – With less than a month before the new season begins, the Canmore Eagles are trying to house some players and offering more incentives.

The local Junior A hockey club is looking for up to four billet homes for players, typically aged between 17-20 years old, and will offer $600 per month over the course of the season, which is up $100 per month from 2023-24.

“We’re definitely looking for a few beds and I think the most important thing to stress is that it’s not as much work as you might think that it is,” said Lyndsay Kearns, Eagles billeting coordinator.

Finding beds is a stressful seasonal issue for the Alberta Junior A Hockey League (AJHL) club. Canmore wears the abysmal crown of being the most expensive place to live in Alberta, and the Eagles have had to counter this by having its billet pay become the highest in the league.

The Eagles increased its billet pricing by $250 per month since 2021-22 to combat common struggles in the Bow Valley, such as shortage of housing, higher cost of groceries and other programs seeking billets.

The club sweetens the pot for interested billets by giving each billet family season tickets, 15 per cent off groceries at Save-On Foods, early access to special events, and other local business discounts.

Former Eagles Brody Mortensen, who was the AJHL’s 2023-24 defenceman of the year, said billet families are the most important part of having the team in a community like Canmore. Coming from Saskatchewan, he said he’s connected to the families and the mountain town for the rest of his life.

“Without the billets, we can’t have the team there and then it doesn’t survive. It doesn’t happen. So I think they’re the most important part and they don't get enough credit as they should,” said Mortensen.

As an example of lifelong connection that was made with Mortensen and his two billet families, the 19-year-old blueliner said they are planning to watch him play this season at the Lindenwood University in Missouri, in NCAA Division I action, as he wears the Lions colours.

“It’s gonna be pretty cool to have them come down and watch me,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to it and seeing them again.”

Typically the AJHL season runs from September to April or May depending on the length of a playoff run.

The Eagles players are usually quite busy throughout the season between school, practice, work, games and travelling. This year’s schedule has more weekend games and fewer throughout the week.

When they are at their billet home, they follow house rules such as a curfew, and lead healthy lifestyles. Mortensen said things like putting away clean dishes or taking out the trash were part of it all.

Families with younger kids, in particular, often form tight bonds with the players.

Kearns, who billets, said it’s a much different experience than first-time billets would expect.

“I was nervous to do it, and then I jumped into it and then we loved it,” said Kearns.

“It’s for everybody. We have retired couples. We have a lot of families, like a lot of the kids are in minor hockey, but it’s really anybody.”

There are opportunities for potential billets to “test the waters” to see if it’s the right fit, added Kearns.

“They’re really meant to enhance your family dynamic … to make things and make life easier,” said Kearns.

For those interested in billeting, email or call coordinator Lyndsay Kearns at [email protected]. 

Earlier this month, the annual AJHL Showcase’s schedule was announced. Taking place in Calgary at the Max Bell Centre, the Eagles play Sept. 25 and 27 against the Lloydminster Bobcats and Grande Prairie Storm, respectively. Puck drop for both games is 4:30 p.m.

The Eagles’ two-game preseason starts Sept. 6 at home against the Olds Grizzlys. The following night, the birds are in Olds for the home-and-home.

The Eagles home opener is Sept. 13 against the AJHL champion Calgary Canucks. Puck drop is 7 p.m.

Canmore will also host Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada in January 2025, which features a live broadcast from Sportsnet, games, and stories of hockey from across the country.