Bill Latvala Memorial Hockey Scholarship

Thunderbirds Hockey Club established a scholarship program in Bill Latvala's honor to make youth hockey more accessible to participants who demonstrate a financial need.

Bill Latvala who as a goaltender played his youth hockey up through Juveniles and was part of numerous State and National Championship teams in the 1950’s including as a member of the Houghton (MI) Thunderbirds.

Bill was not only a standout goaltender but a dedicated coach and board member. After his playing days, he became a mentor to so many youth players who came up through both the Copper Country Junior Hockey Association (CCJHA) and the White Pine Youth Hockey Association.

Prior to his days at CCJHA, Bill along with others, were instrumental in building and maintaining an outdoor rink in nearby White Pine, MI along with starting the youth hockey program.

Endless volunteer hours of scraping and flooding were spent each season at all hours so that local youth players could hone their skills. With his leadership and financial acumen, he was able to assist families and players with equipment. At the end of the day, he saw this as a way to give back and something that he was always very proud of.

It’s to this dedication and loyalty that we remember Bill and carry on the Thunderbird namesake and his legacy.

The Bill Latvala Memorial Hockey Scholarship is funded by contributions and through future events as planned by our scholarship committee and the Latvala family.