NAVIGATE THE HOCKEY JOURNEY WITH CONFIDENCE.
HOCKEY ADVISING • PLAYER DEVELOPMENT • 12U–18U
NAVIGATE THE HOCKEY JOURNEY WITH CONFIDENCE.
Whether you’re wondering what your player needs to work on, which opportunities are worth pursuing, or what the next step should be, SISU Hockey Advisory provides honest evaluations and experienced guidance to help players and families move forward with clarity.
COLUMBUS-BASED HOCKEY ADVISING FOR PLAYERS ACROSS THE U.S. & CANADA.
GRIT
Develop the resilience to keep going when the game gets hard.
GROWTH
Focus on steady, meaningful development instead of chasing overnight results.
GUIDANCE
Make informed decisions with honest feedback and an experienced voice in your corner.
THE HOCKEY PATHWAY ISN’T ALWAYS CLEAR.
YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ALONE.
Which team is the right fit? Is my player developing at the right pace? What should they be working on? Which camps, programs, and opportunities are actually worth pursuing?
For families navigating youth and high school hockey, there are a lot of decisions to make and even more opinions about what you should be doing.
SISU brings clarity to the process with straightforward feedback, personalized guidance, and a long-term approach built around your player.
GUIDANCE BUILT AROUND YOUR PLAYER.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Every athlete’s path looks different. SISU meets your family where you are today, identifies where your player can grow, and helps you make informed decisions about where to go next.
Player Evaluation & Assessment
$199 • One-Time Evaluation
Get an honest look at where your player stands today.
A comprehensive evaluation of skating, puck skills, hockey IQ, compete level, and physical attributes, followed by prioritized development areas and actionable feedback.
Learn About EvaluationsPathway Planning
Two Levels Of Ongoing Advising
Tier I · Full-Year Advising — $2,599
12 months of comprehensive guidance for families looking at the bigger picture and planning several seasons ahead.
Tier II · Seasonal Advising — $1,699
August–March support for families who want consistent guidance throughout the hockey season.
Need Help With One Specific Decision?
Video Analysis — $99
Detailed game-film feedback to identify strengths, habits, and areas for development.
Tryout Consultation — $79
Straightforward guidance when you’re evaluating tryouts, teams, and what opportunity makes sense next.
Not sure where to start?
See every way we help hockey families make informed decisions.
View All Services
MEET TOM LATVALA.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS WHEN YOU’RE HELPING SHAPE WHAT COMES NEXT.
For 30 years, Tom Latvala has been behind the bench helping hockey players develop their game, their confidence, and the mindset to keep moving forward.
His experience spans house hockey through AAA, with roles including Head Coach, Assistant Coach, President, and Director of Hockey Operations. He also holds a USA Hockey Level 5 Coaching Certification.
Now, through SISU Hockey Advisory, Tom brings that experience directly to players and families who want something increasingly difficult to find in hockey:
Honest, straightforward guidance from someone who has lived the game.
MORE THAN A NAME.
/SEE-SOO/
There is no direct English translation.
It’s the quiet determination to keep going when everything tells you to stop. The grit to do the uncomfortable work. The resilience to stay with it when progress feels slow.
For Tom, SISU began with his Finnish roots and a love for the game passed down by his dad, Bill. A player, coach, and mentor himself, Bill’s influence lives on in the way Tom approaches hockey today.
For the athletes he works with, it’s a reminder:
Development doesn’t happen overnight. Keep showing up. Keep working. Keep moving forward.
BILL LATVALA • TOM’S FATHER • FRONT ROW, GOALIE • ROOTS OF SISU
NO SHORTCUTS AND NO EMPTY PROMISES.
DEVELOPMENT IS A PROCESS.
SISU isn’t built around promising the next roster spot, scholarship, or overnight transformation.
It’s built around doing the work that creates sustainable progress: understanding where your player is today, identifying where they can improve, making thoughtful decisions, and consistently showing up for what comes next.
Because every season adds a layer and every challenge teaches something.
And real development takes time, honesty, and consistent effort.
FROM A HOCKEY PARENT.
“HE CARES ABOUT DEVELOPING HIS PLAYERS AS ATHLETES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS.”
“Coach Tom’s knowledge and love for hockey is evident in the countless hours he devotes to his players and teams. His players learn tenacity, grit, and resilience, qualities that are valuable on and off the ice.”
TAN WALKER
Hockey Mom • Columbus Vikings Bantam AA
GETTING STARTED.
01
Tell Us About Your Player.
We want to understand your athlete as both a hockey player and a person, including where they are today, what they want, and where your family feels uncertain.
02
Get An Honest Assessment.
Tom evaluates the player and provides straightforward feedback about strengths, development areas, and opportunities.
03
Build The Path Forward.
Depending on your needs, we’ll identify the right next steps and create a plan designed around your player’s goals and development timeline.