Image: Brenna Ruetz / Chilliwack Brenna Ruetz (top left) speaks very highly as a billet family for the Valley Huskers football team. She's pictured along with Christopher Rollack II (top middle), husband Derek Ruetz (back right) and her twin boys, Dillon and Daxon Ruetz and Valley Husker player Aidan Dudley (#68). She's encouraging Chilliwack families to consider billeting and says the impact on her two sons has been positive and wonderful. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Valley Huskers seek billet families

Chilliwack family cherishes time as Valley Huskers billet, hopes more families open their doors

May 31, 2024 | 11:31 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack resident Brenna Ruetz has seen first-hand the multiple benefits that came when she and her family opened up their home to a Valley Huskers football player.

Ruetz, whose family has been billeting for the Valley Huskers and other local sports teams for the past few years, attests to the positive impact upon her own twin boys.

“Our billet boys have become our family,” said Ruetz, who is extensively involved with the Valley Huskers. “They are great mentors and role models for our twin boys, who are just starting out on their own football journeys. They spend a lot of time with them, running drills, passing the ball around, playing games, watching movies together and our players have even come to help us coach our kids flag football team on their own time.”

Image: Brenna Ruetz / A Valley Husker football player demonstrating drills for two younger football players.

The Valley Huskers are hoping a few more families in Chilliwack open their hearts and doors to the players, some of whom are coming to town from all over the world.

SPRAY ZONE

City of Chilliwack opens new, first-of-its-kind spray zone in Promontory

28m ago

Road closure

Police in Abbotsford close road Saturday morning due to mental health call

2h ago

ROAD SAFETY

Chilliwack Mounties issue safety reminder as classes wrap up for summer

18h ago

“These young men, ages 17-22, are committed to the game of football and are coming here from all over the world to pursue their passion,” Ruetz said. “While the Huskers are home to many local players, the Huskers team could not be fielded without our out of town players to make up the numbers needed. So, we must find them homes.”

Ruetz says there are currently 15 players that do not have a place to call home for the 2024 season. The Valley Huskers season runs from late June through to mid-November. Families are compensated $800 a month paid directly to them by the players. In exchange, families provide the player with food and a bedroom. Families are not responsible for driving them to and from the field for practices and games because, as Ruetz points out, the players are very independent and don’t require a lot of responsibility from host families.

“We currently have 15 players that do not have a place to call home for the 2024 season,” Ruetz said. “We are aware that it is a big ask, but we are asking, if you have room in your home and hearts, that you might consider billeting for the Huskers. The Valley Huskers have been playing in the Fraser Valley for over 25 years. The Huskers have really found their stride in recent years, with excellent coaching and support staff, who are changing the culture and bringing this team to new heights every season. Our last 3 seasons have been winning seasons and we could not do this without the support of our community and billet families.”

Image: Brenna Ruetz / Brenna’s family is pictured with Valley Huskers football player Christopher Rollack II.

Ruetz says she only has one regret about the billet program.

“The only thing I don’t love about being a billet family is having to say goodbye at the end of the season,” said Ruetz. “Our boys really look up to their billet brothers. We absolutely love billeting.”

For more information on becoming a billet family, please email Billets@valleyhuskers.ca.