Aaron Kinslow recalls his junior hockey league playing days in Dubuque, Iowa, skating for the Fighting Saints. The Moorhead, Minn., native was in a foreign place, living with folks he didn’t know, and was looking for a level of comfort and stability.
Now the general manager of the Park City Junior Moose, a Junior A hockey league organization scheduled to make its debut this fall, Kinslow is looking for assistance from local communities. Many incoming members of the team will need to stay with host families, much like Kinslow did during his playing days.
“Typically, in finding a host family, we want to find a good family structure and environment,” he said. “One that’s going to incorporate these athletes in their family lives and still understand these athletes are coming here to develop and to play hockey.
“They’re here to support (them) and get them acclimated to the new community they’re in. The most successful part of any organization is how good your guest housing family is.”
The Moose will play in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL), a 15-team, three-division Junior A (ages 16 to 20) league based on the West Coast. Of the 25 players on the roster, Kinslow estimates roughly 20 will need to stay with host families for the upcoming season. He said the remainder of the roster will be filled with local players.
“We’re only two weeks to go before the kids come into town for training camp,” he said. “We’re still quite a few beds away from hitting our mark.”
Kinslow said host families will be paid a $400 a month by the player. Every player will have his own mode of transportation, and most importantly, will have to follow strict standards.
“I know things are tight right now; I wish I could do more,” he said. “We’re just trying to keep costs down more and help these kids achieve their dreams. They’re required to be responsible on their own. They have to do their own laundry and own chores around the house.
“There are two sets of rules: Team rules that apply when they step outside the door, and when they step inside the door, they’re following house rules.”
He said he’s received mixed feedback thus far after talking to folks about hosting the young athletes. Kinslow said he’s looking at communities such as Park City, Coalville, Kamas, Heber City and Midway as potential landing spots.
“There’s no real word to describe the beneficial impact later on down the road,” he said. “I stay in contact with the host families I stayed with when I played in junior hockey. That’s one of the coolest things about it. You end up making lifelong friends.
“I’ve had families that have never been involved with hockey, new families just getting married to people that are retired and are living in an empty house. Basically, all walks of life, and, they actually become fans of the game.”
For more information on the Park City Junior Moose or becoming a host family, contact Aaron Kinslow at (701) 866-0789 or [email protected].