As the longest-serving billet parent with the Estevan Bruins organization, Melodye Pierson has had a big impact on a lot of young players who have come here to play hockey.
She started billeting in 1980 with her late husband Bert. And while there have been a couple of brief breaks during the past 40 years, the vast majority of the past four decades have seen at least one Bruin player find their home away from home at the Pierson house.
In many seasons, Melodye and Bert had three or even four players, and that doesn’t include the many players who had a short-term stay at their house.
Their introduction to billeting came after the Pierson family moved back to Estevan, when their sons Jeff and Brad were still very young.
“We went to games, and I remember walking out of the Civic (Auditorium) and they said ‘Can’t we have one of those guys live with us?’” recalled Melodye. “And then we got our first guy in January of 1980.”
The Piersons always tried to treat their billets like they would want their sons to be treated if they went away to play hockey.
“You just make them part of your home. You’re not their parents … but you feel so much like they’re just a part of your family,” she said. “Everything you do is for their betterment.”
Serving as a billet parent allowed her and Bert to not only become a big part of the players’ lives, it allowed them to get to know those players’ families.
“The best thing about it is the relationships you’ve had over the years,” said Melodye.
They have been to weddings and other celebrations, and they have become friends with their former billets’ children.
She has kept a list of all the players who have lived at the Pierson home for the long-term over the years. It stands at 75.
Her billet for this season is rookie defenceman Dayton Deics.
“He just turned 18 in November and he’s going on 20,” said Melodye. “He’s such an incredible kid with an incredible work ethic, and he is totally a team guy.”
Clearly being a billet parent has been a great experience for the Pierson family, and it’s one she has recommended to others, because she loves how they become such a big part of the family.
