The Ice Wolves, a junior hockey team, are currently seeking host families to accommodate their players. Host Family Coordinator Tina Tomlin said, "We’re short some beds right now. I like to call them 'beds' not homes because some families can host multiple players. So, currently we’re looking for 7 to 10 beds."
Tomlin shared her personal experience of hosting players: "You get the fulfillment of watching a player spend his youth getting to this moment, achieving their dream of playing college hockey." She and her husband Greg Bronson have hosted former Ice Wolves goaltender Jackson Fuller, who went on to play Division 1 college hockey at Northern Michigan University. Greg recalled Fuller's reaction upon receiving the news: "Jack was a really quiet guy and he had the biggest smile on his face... His reaction made our day."
Greg noted that players usually take about a week to adjust before becoming part of the family. He added that hosting offers a safe space for players to relax and disconnect from hockey.
Tina emphasized that having children should not deter families from hosting: "If you have kids who are into sports, you’re creating a big brother situation." Families receive a monthly stipend of $425 and additional support through sponsors.
Nicole Bazzano, another host family member, highlighted the community benefits: "You’re helping the local community... These players can bring a positive impact to young children by seeing dedication and hard work." She stressed the importance of providing a stable environment for players from around the world.
Bazzano also mentioned the need for temporary homes for visiting players: "Temp families are definitely needed... It’s important to provide them a good host family also because it shows that the organization is dedicated to providing stable, supportive homes."
For those interested in becoming host families, information is available on the Ice Wolves website.
Information from this article can be found here.
