ESTEVAN - The Eagle Sky Estevan Bruins used their annual parents and billets weekend to salute one of their long-standing billet couples.
Ken and Chris Sali have been providing a home away from home for Bruin players for 30 years, often having at least two Bruin players staying at their home at a time. Many of those players stayed at the Salis' home throughout their junior hockey careers.
Prior to the Bruins' home game against the Kindersley Klippers on Friday night, a video was shown that recognized the couple. Dozens of the Salis' former billets said thanks, as did the parents of some of those players, several Bruins' alumni who spent a lot of time at the Salis' home, and Ken and Chris' daughter Kim.
In an interview with the Estevan Mercury a few years ago as part of a Bruin billet parent spotlight, Chris Sali said they became billet parents after someone approached them at a hockey game.
"I can’t remember who that person is, but I’m grateful that they approached us," Chris said at the time.
Billeting has allowed Chris, Ken and their children to make incredible friendships with the players who have stayed at the Sali home, and with the family members of those players.
During good times and bad, happy times and sad, the Salis have been there for their players.
Billeting can be a lot of work, making sure that the players are taken care in a comfortable atmosphere, and keeping them well fed, especially on game days, but it's worth it.
And even after 30 years, the players who have stayed at the Sali home are still their boys.
