Estevan Bruins Billet Family of the Week: Brent and Jennifer Olfert

This is a new feature in the Mercury that will run every second week throughout the 2019-20 Estevan Bruins season. Thanks to the caring billets who provide a home away from home throughout the season, and to Mandy and Ryan Irwin from Tim Hortons on King Street for sponsoring this profile. 

Billet Profile: Jennifer and Brent Olfert

Billets since: 2005

Players currently billeting: Jayden and Cody Davis

Brent and Jennifer Olfert have enjoyed billeting Jayden Davis of Alameda so much, they decided to billet his little brother, Cody, too.

The Olferts have been the billets for Jayden Davis since the elder Davis joined the Bruins in the fall of 2016. Jayden is in his fourth and final season of junior hockey, and is the Bruins captain for this season.

The Davis family and the Olfert family knew each other previously, as Jayden’s younger sister Kylie played hockey with the Olferts’ younger daughter Kamri.

“Jayden was coming home from Lethbridge and looking for a place to stay, and we thought he would be a good fit with us,” said Jennifer.

The bond between billet and billet parents has been strong. Even during the summer months, Jayden will pop in to say high to the Olferts when he’s in Estevan.

It’s been a great experience having Jayden around the Olfert home, so the family decided to billet Cody Davis, a 17-year-old forward who is in his first year with the Bruins.

“I would have been sad not to have had Cody. No matter what, we would have made sure that we have the room for him,” said Jennifer.

Both have fit right in with the Olfert family, which also includes Kamri’s older sister Hannah.

The Olferts had dabbled in billeting previously. They provided a home away from home for former Bruin defenceman Colten MacPherson when he played for the team from 2006-2010, and they also billeted Benson’s Derek Wilhelm from 2004-06.

Jennifer said she loves how being a billet brings the family closer to the Bruins organization, and it creates an extended family, with the Davis boys and their families as well.

“I genuinely love these boys, and I call them my kids, too,” Jennifer said.

It can be a lot of work being a billet parent, but Jennifer believes it’s worth it. She would recommend the experience for anyone who is capable of doing it, because of the interactions.

“I’m not looking forward to this being our last season with Jayden. I will be extremely sad come the end of the year, but I’m excited we’ll still have Cody.”

And with Cody being part of the Olfert household for much of the year, it will allow the Olferts to remain in close contact with Jayden and his family moving forward.