Thomas Walls Foundation

Thomas Walls, 20, died in 2007, but his spirit is alive.

Walls, a Purdue University student who played hockey for both North High School and the Evansville Thunder, died in August 2007.

Funds have been raised for a commissioned artwork that organizers have hung at Swonder Ice Arena. The sculpture, which includes hockey sticks, a puck and a jersey, is intended as a celebration of hockey players. Number 6 by John McNaughton

The hockey community — players and parents — are an extended family because of the close ties developed through games, practices and travel.

"We shared those experiences from the time these boys were 6 until the time they finished high school," said Walls' mother, Lee Ann Shafer. Shafer has another son, William, who is also active with the Evansville Youth Hockey Association.

Shafer said her hockey friends provided a great source of support for her family when her son died. Supporters have already donated enough money to endow an annual college scholarship in Walls' name, his mother said.

Shafer announced the scholarship fund, plus the creation of a youth hockey award. The award is called the Thomas F. Walls Thunder 6 Award, named after the number Walls wore for the Evansville Thunder.