Parker Kelly poses for a picture with his mother Joanne (right) and his billet mom Lori Gay (left) (submitted photo/ Lori Gay)

By Nigel Maxwell

Mother's Day

P.A. mothers have championship fever

May 10, 2019 | 3:22 PM

While many mothers may be expecting flowers and handmade cards this Mother’s Day, a group of mothers in Prince Albert have something else on their wish list — a championship trophy.

Many of the Prince Albert Raiders players have billet families during the hockey season. Cara Nelson looks after Jakob Brook, and told paNOW seeing the team win the Western Hockey League (WHL) Final would be the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

“A win by the Raiders would be amazing. As a billet mom it would mean everything to me and my family,” she said.

Nelson said Brooks may not be related to her by blood, but he’s still every bit a part of her family. When asked if there were any extra special responsibilities that went along with being a billet mom, Nelson replied it would just have to be the extra groceries.

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“Hockey is just a big part of our family and so we love it and we have been so lucky so far. We have been billeting for four years now and the boys we have had just been extra role models for our own son,” she said.

Lori Gay has been Parker Kelly’s billet mom for four years. She said her biggest job these past few weeks has just been keeping things around the house as calm, and as routine as possible. Gay added the hardest thing about being a billet mom is having to say goodbye to him for a few months of the year, every year.

“I’m very close with his mom [Joanne], she said. “We sat together at one of the last games and shared our memories and cried — just a little.”

Loeden Schauffler celebrates his 19th birthday with his extended family. (submitted photo/ Teena Monteleone)

Teena Monteleone has also been a longtime billet mom and this year was looking after both Dante Hannoun and Loeden Schauffler. She said she would love to see the boys hoist the championship trophy.

“It’s something you see the boys work towards all year and it’s been an especially special year because of the success they have seen on the ice,” she said.

Monteleone recalled it was a tough adjustment for Hannoun this year, who was traded to Raiders at the trade deadline, after spending his entire WHL career in Victoria. Monteleone said she takes great pride in being the person who helps make sure the boys are OK.

“You know, you cook for them, you clean for them, and you make sure they are on time and that they have clean socks and all that sort of thing,” she said. “I would want for them exactly what I would want for my own kids and that’s to see the success and to enjoy the work they have put into this season.”

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell