A.J. Foyt V forging his own path in hockey

Vince Neil Media photo

Given his family history, one might think that A.J Foyt V would be more comfortable on the gridiron or at the speedway. Instead, the 15-year-old found his passion playing hockey.

The 2010-born blueliner comes from one of the most recognizable sports families in the United States. He is the great-grandson of racing icon and Hall of Fame NASCAR driver A. J. Foyt, who also won the famed Indianapolis 500 four times (1961, 1964, 1967, and 1977) as an IndyCar driver. Foyt was the first driver to ever accomplish that feat.

His father, A. J. Foyt IV, is a former race car driver who now works for the Indianapolis Colts within their scouting department.

Foyt also has ties to the NFL. His grandfather, Jim Irsay, was the longtime owner of the Colts until his passing. His mother, Casey Foyt, is a co-owner and vice-president of the franchise alongside his aunts, Carlie Irsay-Gordon and Kalen Jackson.

Yet when some of the top prospects from across North America gathered this week at the annual OHL Futures Camp at Ridley College, Foyt was there on the strength of his play as a high-scoring defenceman with Mount St. Charles Academy.

The showcase, held in St. Catharines, featured 120 of the top players from across Ontario and the United States eligible for the 2026 OHL Priority Selection.

“It was great,” Foyt said. “A bunch of high-end players here at this camp, obviously more Canadians than Americans, so it was great to be here.”

While hockey may have seemed like an unlikely path given his family’s background, Foyt has been playing the sport since he was three years old.

“Growing up, one of my friends played hockey,” he said. “So one day he just invited me to come skate, and I fell in love with it.”

Despite growing up in a family known for football and motorsports, Foyt has quickly emerged as a promising prospect and is expected to hear his name called this June at Slush Puppie Place.

As he continues to develop, Foyt has the right approach.

“Obviously, be humble and then just work very hard and prove to yourself that you can be the best.”