Become Part of the Team

Looking to be Part of the Team?

Become A Billet Family Today! 

This past weekend the Billeting Coordinator of the Lakers contacted me and mentioned that we have a few additional players coming to the team coming up. Currently however this players do not have a home to stay at and we are desperately asking the Forest Lake, Mn community region to open their hearts and homes to a kid in need of a regional family.

For more info contact Jerris Miller at (612)-670-4817.

Note From Lakers GM Ralph Hayne 

Each year hundreds of families throughout the United States will host Junior Hockey players spending the hockey season away from their homes. For a majority of Host Families these stays are often the foundation of special lifelong friendships with the players and his regular family. The host families soon become fans participate in various hockey events, pot lucks, and parties with other host families and members of the team.

Lakers players will be 20 years old or younger and are required to either go to school or work during the hockey season. Players pay a monthly Billeting fee of $350 to these host families during their stay.

Potential hosts should contact us to hear more about this fun experience.

For more information please email the Lakers Billet Coordinator, Jerris Miller at jerrismiller11@gmail.com or call her at 612-670-4817.

Or contact team GM, Ralph Hayne

 ralph.hayne@lakershockey.com 

651-335-7398

The billeting parents establish the rules. However, they are expected to be flexible and reasonable. The following are examples:

1) The league requires that the team treasurer collect the billet fees from the player and pay the billet from the team account.  This will occur on or about the first of each month.

 2) There will be a curfew. This needs to be discussed, agreed to and followed. Consider school, hockey and work schedules. Weekends can be later.

3) Family will provide access to clothes washer and dryer. Player washes his own clothes. Family supplies detergent and dryer sheets. It is recommended a schedule is agreed on to avoid conflicts with using the machines.

4) Player is expected to keep his room picked up daily and cleaned per agreed schedule. This includes but not limited to vacuuming, washing sheets.

5) Player is assigned a bathroom to use. This may be shared with other family members. Schedules may become necessary to minimize conflicts. If they have their own bathroom, they clean it weekly. Sharing a bath means sharing the cleaning. Agree on schedule and specific chores.

6) Because a player is paying the family to supply food, they should allow access to snacks and leftovers at reasonable hours – agree on terms and define snacks (fruit, hot pockets, cereal, personal size pizzas, etc). Remember - these players are burning 5000 or more calories a day skating.

7) The family is encouraged to include the player in family activities: social events, church, grocery shopping, watching movies, board games. If the family has a younger member hockey player, the Laker is expected to offer help to the player's coach at practices or games when there is no scheduling conflict with the Lakers.

8) It is suggested that general house rules be discussed: attire (ex: when is it appropriate or not appropriate to be up and about in their boxers), what to do with wet towels, locking doors, electricity savings, dirty dishes

9) Player is expected to share normal family chores: Examples: take out garbage, shovel snow, etc.

10) US players normally come with their own vehicle. Off-street parking is optimum, but it is understood this may not always be possible. Parking plans need to be defined. Import players will not have a car or a drivers license. The team will help organize transportation (exampe: have a 2nd, US player living with the family; another local player will drive them)

11) Players should be able to have friends visit. Set rules, curfews. If the player requests to have a friend for a sleepover, it is the parent’s decision to say yes or no. It is suggested that a discussion about this include expectations regarding meals and snacks while the friend is there. No surprises on anyone’s part.

12) Developing strong relationships with local girls should be discouraged. 

13) At no time should a player have a girlfriend visiting and being together in his room with the door closed. Private, personal conversations between them should be conducted outside billet family home.

Lakers Vs. HC Harbin (China) Friday - Oct. 10th

The Forest Lake Lakers have jumped out of the gates to a 6-1-0 start in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL). Their next game in the MnJHL is on Saturday Oct. 11th in Rochester vs. the 6-0 Ice Hawks. But before the Lakers hit the road this weekend they will be playing an international exhibition game vs. HC Harbin of China on Friday at the Forest Lake Sports Center at 7:30. Join us at the rink, or if you can’t make it check out www.msbnsports.com which broadcast all MnJHL games.

HC Harbin has been coming to America in their offseason for a several years now to prepare them for hockey back home where they have won over a dozen Chinese National Championships in the last 40 years. Arriving in 2 waves on September 16th, and 17th, they have been staying in Ames, Iowa playing games against the Iowa State Cyclones D1 and D3 teams over the last few weeks. Against the D3 team the HC Harbin displayed a lot of talent in a pair of 4-1 losses. Then against the D1 team HC Harbin fought through a couple of blowouts losing 8-0 on 9/26 and 11-1 on 9/27. Not a lot is known about the team and how they will do against the Lakers. A few years ago they played the Twin Cities Northern Lights and struggled against them although I could not track down a box score. The game should be a fun test for the Lakers and HC Harbin both look to get some extra experience to help them in their respective upcoming seasons. Join the Lakers on Friday and route the team on as they look to win their first International Game.

Now after those two series of games HC Harbin is coming to Forest Lake where they will take on the Lakers this Friday. The Lakers players are excited about the game, as they will get a chance to try out some tactics for their upcoming games in the MnJHL season. The Lakers have 3 games vs. the top 2 teams in the Minnesota Division. The (6-0) Rochester Ice Hawks (tied at 12pts with the Lakers) on Saturday and then the (9-2) Dells Ducks next weekend on the 17th and 19th. Having already defeated the Ducks 2-1 last Thursday the Lakers will be looking to take some points from the only team they are currently chasing.


Scouting Report on HC Harbin

Forwards: “The most talented forward on HC Harbin's roster, however, is likely 18-year-old Ji Peng, who played 6 games for China Dragon last season and for Team China at the 2014 World Junior Championships Division II Group B and the 2014 World Championships. Nineteen-year-old Xiang Xu Dong and 18-year-old Zhu Zi Yang also skated with Ji at forward at the World Junior Championships.”

Defense: “HC Harbin's defense is led by Fu Teng Yi, who was an alternate captain for Team China at the 2014 World Championships and who plays a strong two-game, possesses strong all-compass mobility, and who displays a penchant for physical play. Li Ning and Wen Chao are well-established as amongst China's best, having played for both China Dragon and Team China at the World Championships last season, and Guan Tian Yi is one of China's top young defenseman as a 19-year-old who played 7 games for China Dragon in 2013-14 and, like Ji Peng, for Team China at both the World Junior Championships and World Championships.”

Goalies: “In net, Harbin brings two arguably the top two goaltenders in China. Liu Zhi Wei served as China's number one netminder at the 2014 World Championships and 20-year-old Xia Sheng Rong joined him as Team China's backup after serving as China's top goalie at the 2014 World Junior Championships and as China Dragon's backup goalie”