Tom Latvala Announced as 14U AA Head Coach for 2025-26 Season

The Thunderbirds Hockey Club is thrilled to announce that Tom Latvala has been appointed as the Head Coach for the 14U AA team for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Coach Latvala hails from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he played youth and travel hockey with the Copper Country Junior Hockey Association in Houghton-Hancock, MI. His travel hockey days took him throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, and the Iron Range of Minnesota.

Tom is a highly experienced coach with a Level 5 USA Hockey certification, marking his 30th year of coaching at the AA and AAA levels. Over his illustrious career, he has been behind the bench for nearly 2,000 games. In addition to his four successful seasons with the SISU Thunderbirds, Tom has held coaching positions with the Columbus Vikings 14U, Dayton Stealth 15O AAA and 16U AAA, Queen City Steam 16U AAA, Columbus Capitals, Columbus Cardinals, and CCYHA Blue Jackets. His dedication and expertise have helped many of his former players advance to AAA, Prep School, Juniors, NCAA, ACHA, AAU College Hockey, and the NHL.

Throughout his career, Coach Latvala has been part of numerous championship teams, including the Columbus Cardinals Peewee AA team, which was crowned North American International Silver Stick Peewee AA Minor champions in 2004-2005 (Newmarket, ON). Alongside his coaching responsibilities, Tom also scouts for the Anchorage (AK) Wolverines in the NAHL.

Tom has been married to his wife, Melissa, for years. They have a 30-year-old son, Alex, who grew up playing AA and AAA hockey in Ohio and Michigan before playing ACHA DII at Northern Michigan University. Alex currently resides and works in the Chicago area, where he also coaches high school hockey.

The Thunderbirds Hockey Club is excited to have Coach Latvala lead the 14U AA team and looks forward to a successful 2025-26 season under his guidance.