Pueblo Bulls hockey a family affair for Tracy Bastian

For many, the Pueblo Bulls hockey team is family. And in more ways than one.

Formed in 2019, the team is a member of the United States Premier Hockey League and has enthralled hockey and non-hockey fans alike over the past three seasons.

The team plays at the Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena and sells out nearly every home game. And their fans are loyal to a fault, oftentimes traveling with them on the road to Western Division games in Greeley and Utah.

For one fan, the Bulls aren't just like a family, they are one.

For Tracy Bastian, a former Pueblo School District 60 employee who is now in the real estate business, the Bulls and their players have become a Godsend.

Bastian and her husband Jerry became billets (host family) for Bulls players not long after the team's inception.

Last July, Jerry, a deputy for the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, became ill and suddenly passed away. Tracy was left without her husband and said hosting Bulls players was the furthest thing from her mind.

But when it came time to re-up as a host family, Tracy signed up again. Even without Jerry.

Introduction to the Pueblo Bulls

A few short years ago, Tracy knew little about hockey but Jerry was a huge fan. That soon changed for Tracy.

"I wasn't a hockey fan and had never been to a hockey game," Tracy said. "Then one day I was tagged on a Facebook post by a friend that the Pueblo Bulls were looking for someone to sing the National Anthem at their home games."

Tracy, who grew up in church with her father as a pastor, had been singing her entire life so she decided to audition for the gig, and she got it.

"I figured I'd show up and sing and might stay once in a while to watch the game," Tracy said.

"The first weekend I sang and went to the game and the hugest hockey fight broke out. Even the goalies were going at it."

Tracy was hooked. Jerry needed no convincing.

Becoming a host family

After continuing to sing and attending home games, the Bastians were eventually asked to become billets.

"I didn't know if I wanted to take a player," Tracy said. "Lisa Simonich handled placing players with host families and she asked us if we would take two players.

"I said, 'Sure, why not?' Jerry was sitting in the stands and when I found out we were going to be billeted, I told him, 'It's twins.'

"It was like having a whole new family. It's been a blast."

Responsibilities of a host family

Host families for the Bulls receive a $300 stipend per month to host players who come from all over the world.

Tracy explained what a host family is responsible for.

"Mostly food, they eat a lot," she said laughing. "It's mostly a place for them to live and eat. The $300 lasts about five days. Host families don't do it for the money, for sure."

Bulls general manager Dave Johnson said the league couldn't exist without host families.

"Some families host one or two players and some have three," Johnson said. "How many they host is determined by what their capability is in the home. We have between 15 and 20 host families."

"It's like getting a new puppy," Tracy said. "They eat, sleep and play hockey. They sleep more than anyone I've ever seen.

"They take naps, eat, and skate. They do have to do community service as part of playing with the Bulls."

Turcotte shows up in Pueblo

In 2020, the second year the Bastians were a host family, one of the players they hosted was Felix Turcotte from Montreal, Canada. He came to the Bastians that November.

"I was playing back East and had a friend who had signed here (Pueblo)," Turcotte said. "I was looking for a team to play for and I had heard good things about Pueblo, that it was a great community with great fans.

"I thought it would be a great match."

Turcotte came to Pueblo right before Christmas, met Jerry and Tracy, and joined the Bastians' household.

After that first season, Turcotte returned to Montreal. He worked and began preparing for the next hockey season.

Honoring Jerry with No. 58

In July of 2021, Turcotte remembers hearing about Jerry's sudden death.

"That day I was working all day, one of the only days I had a double shift," Turcotte recalled. "Tracy had sent me a text and I never looked at my phone. And general manager Dave Nelson tried to call me twice.

"It was late at night before I finally turned on my phone and saw I had missed a couple of texts and missed calls. I was wondering what happened."

The news of Jerry's passing was devastating.

Turcotte wasn't sure he was going to return to play in Pueblo and hearing that Jerry had passed made his decision even more difficult.

He said if he were to return he wanted to find a way to honor Jerry.

"At first I didn't know how to take it (Jerry's death)," Turcotte said. "I didn't know if Tracy would have me back and I told her it was her choice. If she wanted me back she said I would be the only player she would take back. She eventually told me she would love for me to come back and stay with her.

"When I heard that, I wanted to do something meaningful for Jerry. I thought about changing my number to the year of his birth or the month or day he was born. Nothing was working."

Jerry's dispatch number with the sheriff's department was D58. When Turcotte learned of the number, his dilemma was solved.

"It was perfect," Turcotte said. "I told the coaches I wanted to change my number to 58 and wanted to keep it a secret.

"We revealed the number for Tracy and it was perfect."

Falling in love with the Bastians, Pueblo

Turcotte, who has been a fixture on the team over the past two seasons and leads the Bulls in points scored, now refers to the Bastians as his second family.

"I had never been a billett and I fell in love with the place (Pueblo) as soon as I got here," he said. "Jerry and Tracy were so welcoming. They took us out to dinner to different restaurants and sometimes we just hung out and watched movies.

"I tell my friends that I've met new people who make me feel so welcome here. I've found the right place and Tracy makes it feel like home."

After this season, Turcotte will leave the Bulls and hopes to be able to play collegiate hockey.

"I'm planning on playing college hockey," he said. "I'm talking to a few colleges but I have no commitments."

Bulls to host first-ever playoff

The Pueblo Bulls will host a best-of-three playoff on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 4-6, at the Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena, a first for the franchise. They will take on the Provo Riverblades with the opportunity to advance in the playoffs.

The Pueblo Plaza Ice Arena has been electric for the team, reaching near capacity nearly every home game.

Tickets are $15 apiece and can be purchased online on the team's website at pueblobullshockey.com or Awards By Trophy, 3931 Sandlewood Ln.

Chieftain senior sports reporter Jeff Letofsky can be reached by email at jletofsky@chieftain.com or on Twitter @jeffletofsky

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Host family for Pueblo Bulls becomes a second family for players