Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Storm Family Named Buckley's Billet Family of the Year

Press Release

The Ontario Hockey League in association with Buckley’s is proud to announce that the Guelph Storm's Aitken/Hardman Family are one of three families that will receive the Buckley's Billet Family of the Year Award for the 2009-10 season.

The other two winners include the Pysyk family representing the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL, and the Melanson family representing the Moncton Wildcats and the QMJHL.

Fans had the opportunity to vote for their favourite Buckley’s Billet Family ‘bad face’ and ‘relief face’ photos to help crown the winners of this inaugural award.

Each winning family will be rewarded with a trip for two to the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup where they will receive VIP treatment and a Buckley’s Billet Family of the Year plaque presented during the CHL Awards Ceremony set for Saturday May 22nd.

Lisa Aitken and Ryan Hardman are first year billet families and were teamed up with Storm rookie Zack Mitchell. Long time hockey fans, they saw that billeting a player was a great way to give back to the community while hosting a role model for their children. They helped him feel at home by decorating his room to match his favourite NHL team and help prepare his pre-game meals and snacks, and occasionally host his parents for dinner. The day that Zack moved in he brought the family a big bouquet of flowers.

The Buckley’s CHL Billet Families Program recognizes and rewards the families that provide a home-away-from-home for major junior hockey players in the CHL each year. With this program, Buckley’s gives billet families a chance to share their stories and show that their hard work and support is worth it.

Click here to read more about the Aitken/Hardman Family and life with Zack Mitchell this season in the article "With Open Arms" by Guelph Tribune reporter Ned Bekavac.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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