“A knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue, and his actions embody honor.” – Sir William Blackwood

While that quote may not have any direct meaning to sports, it certainly reflects on the Arizona Hockey Union.

This season, six players are completing their Mite to Midget journey with AHU, showing that loyalty is indeed alive and well in the Valley.

For the half-dozen stars – Tristan Caruana, Nathan Fitchew, Grayson Heard, Brody Paul, Aidan Streit and Matix Walpole – loyalty is everything. Staying with AHU for the duration of their youth hockey careers and developing their games, on and off the ice, shows that the Knights organization is staying the course in doing things the right way.

Want more proof? Just read what these six families say about their time with AHU.

TRISTAN CARUANA

Like many Arizona kids, Tristan Caruana started his sports journey playing baseball.

However, he quickly discovered that the Arizona heat and slower pace of the game weren’t quite for him. Everything changed after one day of ice skating, when he found a sport he truly loved.

Tristan joined the Little Howlers program in Gilbert, starting with a season of house hockey after completing learn-to-skate. It didn’t take long for his talent and passion to shine through. He quickly advanced and was invited to join the Mite Gray development team. He spent three years playing Mites, developing his skills and growing his love for the game.

During his Squirt Silver season, Tristan faced an unexpected challenge when a virus affected his entire body. He stepped away from hockey for two years to focus on his recovery. When he was ready to return, he started back in house league, followed by a season of All-Stars, before making his way back to travel hockey.

He was especially excited to return to Bantam hockey, where he could finally experience the physical side of the game and play with contact.

With each passing year, Tristan has continued to grow, not only as a hockey player but also as a leader, teammate, and young man. He is often the first to make everyone laugh, bringing humor and personality to the locker room, but he also knows when to stand up for what is right. He is fiercely loyal to his teammates and will always be the first to protect a fellow player if someone is picking on them.

Tristan’s journey has been about much more than hockey. It has been about overcoming adversity, finding his passion, showing perseverance, and becoming the kind of teammate and leader others can count on. His love for the game and the loyalty he shows his teammates are what truly make him special.

NATHAN FITCHEW

Since Nate could walk, there has been a hockey stick in his hand.

By age three, he was already eager to hit the ice through Learn to Skate and Lil’ Howlers – and he hasn’t left the rink since!

Nate’s AHU journey began as an 8U Mite under Coach Springer, where he celebrated his first two championship banners and, more importantly, began building friendships that would turn into lifelong teammates.

Moving into 10U Squirt under Coach Fedo, Nate and his teammates traveled to Fargo, N.D., bringing home an impressive third-place trophy at the Squirt International Tournament—an experience they wouldn’t soon forget.

Through his 12U seasons, Nate continued developing his hockey IQ, positioning, and playing style, earning his reputation as the “Trashman” in front of the net. It was also during these years that the now-familiar “Purple Line” with Streit and Weres came together. Their chemistry, determination, and ability to make things happen proved that you could never count them out.

That bond carried into 14U under Coach Esaena, where the Purple Line continued to build confidence and grow together. One of the most memorable moments came at the 2025 MLK Classic in Irvine, Calif., where the Knights brought home another championship banner. The celebration came with a little extra entertainment—Coach Matt shaving his head and Nate holding up his end of a bet by cutting his hair!

Now entering his first 16U Midget season under Coach Ray Huntley with the 16U A Knights, Nate is also beginning a new chapter in high school hockey with the Basha/Perry Bearcats D3 team.

Known for his quiet personality, quick wit, loyalty, and kindness, Nate isn’t always the loudest guy in the locker room. He’s more of a quiet assassin—a smart, dependable winger who understands his role and lets his game speak for itself.

Through every season, coach, tournament, and challenge, one thing has remained constant: Nate’s loyalty to the Knights and his love for the game.

From a three-year-old with a hockey stick to a 16U player, Nate’s journey has been about so much more than hockey. It’s been about growing up in purple and black, collecting memories, and building friendships that will last long after the final buzzer.

Once a Knight, always a Knight.

GRAYSON HEARD

Grayson’s hockey journey started when he was five years old at Little Howlers.

After just one session, he was playing pond hockey, and after the fourth and final session he came off the ice and declared, “Mini-mites start Wednesday and I need to be there!” He had found his passion so we immediately traveled to Behind the Mask (which was in Chandler at the time) for the first of many, many trips for gear.

His very first season in Mites ended with a championship sparking a desire to win. He started as a forward in the Gilbert house league and was selected as a Mite All Star winning a city championship with a stunning 10-0 record. Soon after, a couple of very astute coaches recognized his strength as a defenseman where he was selected for the Squirt and Pee-Wee All-Star teams, again winning a Pee-Wee City All-Star championship. The Squirt All Star team was on course to win again, but the season was interrupted by COVID-19.

Following those victories, out of a desire to improve his skills and increase the competition, Grayson successfully tried out for the Knights. His first travel team was the 12U White team coached by Ashton Amaya. The team traveled to Chicago and won a tournament championship. At the end of that season, he was honored with a Club Sportsmanship Award.

He moved on to play for Coach Ryan Vert’s 14U Silver team, where he learned what checking really meant, after a very physical tournament in Dallas, Texas. An absolute highlight of that season was an outdoor tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., in early February culminating in a trip to Niagara Falls.

Next, he played 14U Silver for Donavan Mattfield. Though his season was filled with adversity, Grayson persevered, built lasting friendships and incredible memories, including a trip to Tampa, Fla., complete with a round of competitive mini-golf and a swim in the ocean with teammates despite 40-degree weather.

Grayson moved up to the 16U White team playing for Coach Ray Huntley, further honing his physical game. Team trips to Denver, Lake Tahoe, and San Antonio resulted in two more tournament championships in San Antonio and Lake Tahoe, more amazing friendships and unforgettable experiences.

He’s currently playing for the 16U Silver team for Coach Mike Caravella where his love for the game and his hockey club, continues to grow alongside his hockey family.

We are forever grateful for the joy, memories and life lessons provided by hockey and the Knights.

BRODY PAUL

Brody’s love for hockey began 12 years ago at just four years old.

Although he could barely stand on skates, his excitement was undeniable when he first stepped onto the ice at AZ Ice Gilbert for the Little Howlers program. What began as a simple weekend skate became the beginning of a lifelong passion. Brody was hooked and immediately joined the Gilbert House program.

Throughout his Mini Mite and Mite years, Brody played on eight different teams, building a strong foundation under the guidance of Bob Platt, Paul Manos, the late Todd Fitzgerald, and many other dedicated coaches. This chapter culminated in Brody being selected as a Gilbert All-Star and helping his team capture a championship victory over Scottsdale.

When Brody reached the Squirt level, his life truly revolved around the rink. He committed himself to fall and summer sessions, Coaches Corners, stick times, camps, and every opportunity to improve his game. During these years, his passion for travel hockey grew, and he set his sights on the Arizona Hockey Union, dreaming of becoming a Knight.

Brody’s dedication never wavered. Over the years, he balanced the demands of high-level travel hockey with playing for Gilbert teams coached by his father, Jeff Paul. To date, Brody has recorded an impressive 119 goals and 41 assists throughout part of his Gilbert league career.

His journey with the Knights organization has been incredible. Brody has grown tremendously, not only as a hockey player, but also as an individual. Yet despite all of that growth, he continues to carry the same raw passion for the game that he had during his very first Little Howlers skate.

Brody’s hard work, dedication, and character have not gone unnoticed. During his 14U and 16U seasons, he was honored with both the Knights Sportsmanship Award and the Coaches Award, recognizing the player he has become and the person he strives to be.

Brody has cherished the privilege of being part of the organization he once admired as a kid. He is incredibly grateful to have been surrounded by coaches and staff who genuinely care about developing great hockey players while helping build great young adults.
A special thank you goes to Stacy, Melissa, Ray, Matt, Donovan, Mark, and Ryan for their dedication, leadership, and for helping create a program that has had such a meaningful impact on Brody’s journey.

After 12 years of dedication, commitment, memories, friendships, victories, and countless hours on the ice, from Mites to Midgets, Brody is proud to call the Knights organization home, and he will always be grateful for the journey that brought him here.

AIDAN STREIT

Aidan started skating at a very young age of two.

His mom, a figure skating instructor, wanted him to play hockey, to keep his Canadian roots. He was enrolled in some of the Learn to Skate classes and eventually did the Kids First program. After Kids First came Mini Mites, then Mites.

With some encouragement from Holly Harrington, Aidan tried out for his first travel team at the age of four and our journey with AHU started.

Aidan has had many great memories playing with the Knights. He has had the privilege of traveling to different parts of the country. A few of his favorites are traveling to North Dakota for the famous Squirt Invitational. Traveling across the country to play in Buffalo, N.Y., and winning a banner.

He has made countless friends over the years. His favorite year to date was just last year where he was the team’s points leader and received team MVP.

There have been ups and downs over the years, but what remained constant was his love for the game of hockey. He looks forward to trying to win a state championship.

Wherever his future takes him, we know it will involve hockey of some sort.

MATIX WALPOLE

Matix’s first experience on ice was Little Howlers in July 2016 and played for several AZ Ice Gilbert House League teams and the 8U All Star Team going undefeated in 2019.

Matix, a man of few words, loved that he just had to tap his stick on the ice to notify teammates to pass to him. Matix was asked to try out for the Knights in 2019 as a Mite and has been with the program ever since.

To say hockey has changed his life is an understatement.

Matix is proud to be a lifelong Knight and loves all the friends he has made along the way. To his coaches, he says THANK YOU for taking the time to help me develop as a player and grow my confidence in the best sport there is!

Favorite Travel Ice Rink – New England Sports Center, Marlborough, Mass.

Favorite Travel City – Clearwater Beach, Fla.

Favorite Travel Memory – Hanging out with his teammates in the hotels and winning the banner in Chicago in October 2022

For more information on the AHU Knights, visit www.ArizonaHockeyUnion.com.

Photos provided

— Compiled by Matt Mackinder

(November 4, 2026)