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Russ and Shannon Dyck (left) and Jeff and Cheree Penner (right) with owner Earl Funk of Earl's Meat Market and his grandson Ethan Desatels. (Photo courtesy: Adi Loewen)

Local Business Supporting Billet Families

One local business is going above and beyond to help out the outstanding network of billet families associated with the Steinbach Pistons.

Earl’s Meat Market is donating 2 pounds of meat to the billets for every goal the Pistons score this season. During the last home game against the Dauphin Kings, they dropped off some donations of meat on the ice as the Pistons recognized two billet families; Jeff and Cheree Penner, and Russ and Shannon Dyck.

“It’s more than hockey,” owner Earl Funk said. “It’s the positive role models that the billet families are trying to be with the players that come into our community. For me it’s win-win, and that why I support the billet families.”

The Penners are in their first year of billeting with the team, and currently host Brendan Martin. The Dycks have been nicknamed Super Billets, as they have hosted players since the Pistons franchise began nine years ago. They have hosted 36 players in total, and are billeting Jaret Lalli and Riese Gaber.

Son Evan Funk noted that these billets help the players to get involved the community. “Whether on the ice or off the ice, (getting involved) is good character development and that is something that we can get behind.”

The Pistons thank their Billet Community and Earl’s Meat Market for supporting what our program does on and off the ice.