LEWISTON – It looked like field day for a crowd of school kids.

As the yellow school bus bearing 38 prospective Lewiston Maineiacs crawled into the Colisee parking lot, smoke crept skyward from a giant grill filled with hamburgers and red hot dogs.

Corn steamed in pots and there were varieties of fruit and soft drinks lined up under one of three large red-and-white striped tents.

“Early this summer, Sheila (Blanchette) and Peggy (Auger) (both billet mothers last season) came up to me and asked if they could help coordinate the billet barbecue,” said Maineiacs’ vice president and governor Matt McKnight. “This thing looks like a carnival out here; this is fantastic.”

For the second straight year, the Maineiacs hosted a barbecue to officially introduce the players in training camp to their prospective billet families, who will house the players during the season.

“This program, you, the families, are a vital part of this organization,” said majority team owner Mark Just. “If those of you that were here last year remember, I told you that the relationship between a billet family and their player would be a life relationship. You now know what I mean.”

Billet coordinator Ron Guerin said that this year, more than 30 new requests came in from people wanting to host players.

“We had a tremendous response,” said Guerin. “We carefully screened everyone and toured homes this summer, and we have a list of host families that we are proud of.”

This year, no family will house more than one player, giving more families an opportunity to participate, and to alleviate any overcrowding issues.

Steve and Nancy Mennealy hosted a player last year, and were quick to sign up to host another player after learning that their player, Richard Stehlik, would not return for the season.

“There was no hesitation,” said Steve. “We had a dedicated, good all-around kid last year and it was a great experience. We still stay in touch with him about once a week. To do this again made sense, and it was fun, so why not?”

Ironically, the Mennealys will again host a Slovakian-born player, goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who has played with Stehlik on the Slovakian national junior team.

There are several new billet families this year as well, although they have all been warned that some players will leave in the coming weeks if they are cut from the team.

“This is part of being Maineiacs’ nation,” said new billet Hal Chase, who last year with his family drove 12 hours to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, on a whim for a playoff game. “We had such fun as fans, and we had an extra room in the house, so we decided it was a natural step for us.”

Maxime Mathieu, a first-year camp attendee at 18 years old, will stay with the Chase family at least through training camp. Speaking little English and living with a family that speaks little to no French, Mathieu will quickly be immersed in his new environment.

Guy Belisle, 17, is one of a handful of players who has never stayed away from home to play hockey.

“I am a little nervous,” Belisle said, still speaking his native French. “It will be a change, but I think it will be fun, as well. The biggest thing for me will be the language, but that will be quick to learn I am sure.”

Returning forward Mathieu Aubin said, “It was tough at first for me last year,” speaking in French after being back in Quebec for the summer. “I spoke very little English, and it was hard at first, but everyone is so nice to deal with and you learn fast.”

During the dinner, Maineiacs coach and general manager Clem Jodoin thanked the families for their support, but was quick to point out that things have just started, and there is still a long season ahead.

“If we want to succeed as a team, we need you all to be with us,” Jodoin told the crowd. “Let’s enjoy, let’s celebrate that phase one of camp is over, but let’s not forget we need you all year. This week the schedule will be tough, but everything has gone well so far and we hope they will for the rest of the year as well.”