At the opening high school football game this fall, 12-year-old goalie Eli Schultz sat beside his mother, Alyssa Schultz, and quietly asked, “Are you alright?” She smiled and said, “I’m fine – just some allergies.” What Eli didn’t know was that, earlier that very morning, Alyssa had received devastating news: she had been diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer.
Eli has always been intuitive, a quality that makes him not only a standout goalie but also a deeply empathetic son. A week later, when Alyssa had found the strength to share her diagnosis with her children, Eli immediately said, “I knew it! Something was wrong.” The next morning, he pulled out his hockey helmet, carefully arranged strips of pink hockey tape into the shape of a ribbon, and told his mom, “I’m wearing this all season.”
Alyssa’s journey has since become one of courage met with extraordinary community support. When she returned home from the hospital several weeks later, she was greeted by a surprise: a handmade poster signed by every member of Eli’s team that read, “We skate for Mrs. Schultz.” Though the PeeWee B’s had yet to play their first game of the season, they had already proven that hockey is about more than goals and wins – it’s about heart, teamwork, and family.
In the days that followed, the Arrowhead Youth Hockey community rallied around the Schultzes in every imaginable way. Meal Trains appeared overnight, friends coordinated carpools, and neighbors sent prayers, care packages, and notes of encouragement. Parents worked together to ensure that even as Alyssa began treatment, Eli could continue doing what he loved most – playing hockey.
A family friend soon helped connect the Schultzes with the Milwaukee Admirals, who invited Eli to ride the Zamboni at their season opener. The appearance supported ABCD – After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that provides mentorship and emotional support to people newly diagnosed with breast cancer. For Eli, that night wasn’t just about hockey; it was a way to stand up for his mom and for every family facing a similar fight.
Photo credit: Alyssa Shultz
Eli’s resilience is nothing new. Having only started hockey at age 10, after moving from Arizona to Wisconsin, he was a latecomer to the sport. When his coach once asked him to step in for an absent goalie, Eli accepted without hesitation and never looked back. His tenacity earned him the nickname “The Nar-wall” (a playful twist on narwhal), and by the end of that first season, his team had made it all the way to the state championship, finishing third.
This year, Eli joined the October Saves Goalie Challenge, a national fundraiser where goalies collect donations for every save made in October to support breast cancer research and awareness. He began with a modest goal of $100. By the end of the month, he had raised more than ten times that amount, becoming his state’s top fundraiser. His teammates proudly rallied behind him, donning pink ribbons and declaring, “PeeWee B’s want to Pretty Please, Beat Breast Cancer!”
Even rival teams took notice and donated. For the Arrowhead Youth Hockey Association, this season has become about far more than competition. “When you step off the ice, faith, family, and community come first,” said a spokesperson at October Saves. “Eli’s story reminds us of what this sport truly stands for.”
The Schultz family continues to face challenges. Alyssa’s husband, a military veteran and federal employee, was affected by the recent government shutdown, adding financial stress at an already difficult time. Through it all, the Arrowhead hockey family remains steadfast, proving that the power of community can turn hardship into hope.
As Eli prepares for another season in goal, each save he makes carries meaning beyond the rink. Every glove stop, every block, every moment on the ice stands as a tribute to his mother, to every family fighting breast cancer, and to the unbreakable bond between teammates who became something more: family.
