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Billet families score lifetime relationships

dragons family

   The Drumheller Dragons have 17 billet families to host up to 23 players during the season and Corrine Collett spoke with The Mail about her experience.
   Collett had three sons who grew up playing hockey and she was always the manager of their teams and their dad was always the coach. “I’ve been involved with hockey for over 18 years.” said Collett.
   Currently, Collett has two players, #17 Clint Filbrandt from Calgary and # 14 Matt Muzyka from Connecticut.
   “These billeted kids come into your life and they are part of your family from the minute they get here.” said Collett. When speaking with The Mail about day to day living with two players, Collete said: “Depending on the individual player, as they have different eating habits, and if they eat fruit, vegetables, meat as well as Gatorade, bottled water and protein bars, it can be a little bit more expensive. Game night, the players mostly eat pasta, chicken or fish, perhaps a spinach salad or something similar to that. They don’t really eat a lot at mealtime and it is no different than your own kids around home. The difference is that players just eat all day. It’s always nutritious, not a lot of junk food, mainly protein snacks, fruits and vegetables. One of my kids came from Connecticut and doesn’t have his own vehicle but his roommate does and they look after each other.”
   Collett continued, “I’ve had the same kids year after year, but last year they both left for the WHL, Ryan Jevne who now plays for the Tigers in Medicine Hat and Carter Czaikowski who plays for the Portland Winterhawks. I keep in contact with every kid I have ever billeted and one player, Harrison Hendrix is now in his third year at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario and every year at Christmas he calls and he tries to see her every summer.”
   “It is very rewarding. I have been so lucky, the greatest kids, and it’s mostly fun and they grow up before your eyes, it’s pretty cool. Billet families are provided with season passes for home games and I’ve attended every single game and sometimes go to the away games. Then the Dragons have their windup banquet and the kids pack up and they’re gone. It’s pretty tough to see them go.” expressed Collett.
   If you think you would be interested and your family would be a good match, please contact the Dragons Billet Coordinator, Corrine Collett (403) 821-4502 or email her at corrine@canalta.com or corrinecollett@gmail.com

Dragons fall to Saints

Despite leading for most of Friday night, a late surge by Spruce Grove, dashed the Dragons' hope for a home victory.

The Dragons saw goals from Levi Wunder and Avery Belcourt as the first period ended tied at two.

Just 53 seconds into the second period Clint Filbrant put the Dragons up 3-2.

This lasted until three minutes into the third period when the Saints took over and scored three straight goals. Final score : 5-3.

The Dragons are in Brooks Saturday night to take on the Bandits.

Dragons duel with Bandits

Dragonsv bandits

   The Drumheller Dragons, backed by an impressive performance in the net by Jonny Hogue took a run at the Brooks Bandits at home on Tuesday night.
   The Bandits, who are ranked 5th in the country and have an explosive offense were in Drumheller, and while they won 4-1, it was a lot closer than the score makes it appear.
   “Brooks is highly explosive, and we talked about how they come out really hard in the first period. We had four penalties, they dictated the play,” said head coach Brian Curran. “Jonny did everything he could to keep us in the game.” Hogue was unstoppable in the first period, fending off 21 shots in the first period alone. The Brooks Bandits found the net 1:17 into the second period. Levi Wunder answered back midway through the period to tie the game short handed, but the Bandits ended the period up 2-1.
   The Dragons stood strong for most of the third period and had some chances, but a late Bandits goal put them up 3-1, and an empty netter in the dying seconds sealed it.
Coach Curran liked the effort of his team, especially on defense early on.
   “The defense played hard, I was disappointed in our forwards in the first period as a group. In the second and third, I thought we played much better. Obviously, they capitalized on some great bounces for sure, they are going to get their chances, but Johny was there. I thought we played with a lot more emotion and passion in the second period.”
   One takeaway for Curran is that mentally, the team is able to break down and process how to play against very good clubs like the Bandits.
   “You can’t deny they went on a 16 or 17 game win streak. That means they are one of the elite teams in the league. My challenge to the guys was to stop looking at them as the names on the back of their jerseys, and start playing the team,” said Curran. “I try to go through experiences with the ‘player-teams’ that I played against when I was in the NHL. If we always came into Edmonton and worried about all those great games and the names on the jerseys, we would be in trouble all the time.”
   “Skill is skill, and goal scoring is goal scoring, you can’t buy that stuff. But human heart and emotion, and playing by the system and paying attention to the smallest details, teams can win. I have had teams where that has been proven year after year. I am hoping that second and third period showed our guys we can play with the upper teams.”