Parents and loved ones travelled from across North America, all meeting at the Southeast Event Centre to celebrate a special weekend where hockey was the backdrop for connections, stories, and many memories.
Great times had by all
Director of Business Operations, Kevin Geisheimer, says things couldn’t have gone better. “This whole weekend was pretty special because we got to kind of celebrate Pistons hockey with the players’ parents. We also got to celebrate hockey with the players’ parents who are here in this region, the billet parents, with whom the players live on an everyday basis.”
Labour of love
It takes a fair amount of work to make it all go smoothly, as Geisheimer notes. “We actually look at the calendar, and we kind of look for a concentrated area where there are some games over a weekend that make sense. Then we work with Stacey Froese, who’s our billet coordinator. She does unreal, does such a great job. After we coordinate with Stacy, she sends out the invite. This time around, we were pretty excited to come to the new rink, too. We had a parent from every single player on our team show up to be a part of this weekend, which is the first time we’ve had that luxury.”
More than hockey games
It’s not just taking in games, Geisheimer says, there are other things for the parents to take in. “So we plan a meal, a potluck-type meal we had here before Friday’s game. So they got to spend time together, and then we celebrated them on the ice. So we got to kind of share with our fans that there are people and families associated with this team from all over Canada and the United States, which is pretty neat. After that, the parents got together, and they got to go on to an away game together on Saturday in Selkirk. Then again (Monday), they get to watch another game. So there are three games in one weekend. So they get to kind of build some camaraderie over that time.”
Billet appreciation
On Monday, the billets for this year’s players were honoured, another event Geisheimer says is very important to the organization and the community. “So important to have good billets,” he says with a smile. “They play a critical, critical role for the hockey team. They kind of bring, basically, (the players) are there (at the billet house) 75% of the time. They’re at the rink the other 25% of the time. So they got to represent the Pistons brand and take care of these guys. I think it’s cool to do the parent billet weekend on the same weekend so that the parents can connect with the billets. Cause I think, if I were a parent to one of the players, I’d want to know where they’re living, too. So I think it’s a good, it’s a good combo. We’re very, very grateful for our billet community. They’re essential to what we do.”
First meetings
Geisheimer says a highlight for him is seeing the new parents meeting some of the billets for the first time. “I think it’s pretty neat,” he says, grinning. “When you go, and I’ve been a billet too, and so there’s a very special bond between the parents and the billet families. Because they want to know what’s going on, and I think the parents also learn a lot about Steinbach and the region through the billet parents. So I think it’s pretty unique to see a first-time player or first-time player parents come into this community, and then they get to experience Steinbach through a billet home. We have a lot of families that say, ‘Man, I’m just, I’m so grateful that my son gets to play here in Steinbach.’ I think it’s the billet family plays a big part in that. Volunteers, game day, coaching staff, there are a lot of other pieces too, but I think it’s a really, a very special relationship between a parent and the billet family.”
Manitoba families
“I think it’s terrific to see local players playing on the Steinbach Pistons,” Geisheimer says, proudly. “I mean, I think it’s always a behind-the-scenes aspiration for the coaching staff because you want to see them play, see local people do well and be able to play at this level, and so to see those guys on the teams, for example, like the Picklyk family from Mitchell. First year here with us, and getting to experience Pistons hockey from a different perspective. They’ve probably been to a game or two in the past, but now they get to really live and be a part of the Pistons culture through their son. So it’s really neat to be able to see them build that relationship with the team in that way.”
Piston logos everywhere
After the weekend, with families from all over having a chance to get to the Pistons store known as ‘The Garage’, Geisheimer says the Pistons logo will be represented all over, and that’s pretty great. “We have done so well with our store leading up to Christmas time, and then I think right now that everyone’s just recovering a little bit after Christmas. We’ve seen that in our store, but now starting to pick up again. Out of kids’ jerseys, it’s been so popular we made two orders now, another one because kids are really starting to gravitate to the guys, and the guys are doing so well in the community with schools and things like that. So it’s been fun, and yeah, and I think our store is beautiful. It’s a great place to go walk around. So it’s neat to see people out and about in the community wearing Pistons merch on a regular basis, and now all over North America.”
Article Provided by Steinbachonline.com – Photo Courtesy of Patrick Friesen
