Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n- Thomas grew up playing hockey and knew how costly the sport could be. <\/li>\n
- He founded Swift Hockey to bring more affordable, pro-level sticks to market. <\/li>\n
- The business is expanding into other categories and eyeing $7 million in annual revenue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Zechariah Thomas, 23, grew up playing hockey in the Ontario, Canada city of Oshawa, where the sport reigns supreme. As a result, the former minor-league pro had firsthand experience with a common problem on the ice. Players tend to break their hockey sticks 12 to 15 times a season, Thomas says \u2014 and replacements typically cost $400 to $500 each.\u00a0<\/p>\nImage Credit: Swift Hockey. Zechariah Thomas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201c\u200aThose costs [are] absolutely absurd,\u201d Thomas tells Entrepreneur<\/em>. \u201cThen, going even deeper, hockey team fees average around $10,000 to $20,000 per year. That\u2019s without traveling. So hockey\u2019s dealing with this big problem, where it\u2019s almost a sport that\u2019s dying in a sense, just based on the cost of the goods.\u201d<\/p>\nThomas set out to solve that problem. In 2022, at 19 years old, he founded Swift Hockey<\/a>, selling pro-level, carbon-fiber hockey sticks at a more affordable price point \u2014 about $200.\u00a0<\/p>\nStarting a business to solve a problem in sports<\/h2>\n
The young entrepreneur bootstrapped Swift Hockey. During the pandemic, with his schedule cleared of hockey commitments, Thomas experimented with dropshipping and started several online businesses. Selling one of the ecommerce startups gave him the capital to get his next venture off the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Additionally, Swift Hockey appeared on the Canadian reality show Dragon\u2019s Den<\/a><\/em> in 2023, just six months after the business\u2019s launch, and received three offers. Although Thomas accepted one, the deal ultimately fell through, and the business remains self-funded.\u00a0<\/p>\nThomas applied what he\u2019d learned from his previous ecommerce businesses to Swift Hockey. Instead of focusing on distribution in brick-and-mortar sporting goods retailers like most companies selling hockey sticks, he took an online-first approach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The move isn\u2019t without its challenges, Thomas admits, as hockey players who break a stick can\u2019t practice until they have another \u2014 which means speedy acquisition is key.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/zt2_main.webp?w=1024\")
Image Credit: Swift Hockey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSwift Hockey\u2019s DTC approach gives it a competitive edge<\/h2>\n
However, Swift Hockey\u2019s online strategy is what allows the business to hold margin while offering a lower price point and continue its steady growth. \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to grow very organically for the first two years,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cWe didn\u2019t pay $1 in advertising for the first two years, and that was able to get us to the point where we\u2019ve gotten some traction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas plans to continue leaning into direct-to-consumer advantages. Swift Hockey is on track for $7 million in annual revenue in 2026. The company currently has about 20 employees on its staff.<\/p>\n
The founder plans to build on the business\u2019s online sales with an intentional, slow expansion into brick-and-mortar suppliers. Swift Hockey recently closed two major partnerships with Play It Again Sports and Source for Sports.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Expanding the business\u2019s offerings beyond hockey sticks<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s more, the business is expanding its product offerings beyond hockey sticks. The idea came to Thomas a while back, when he made a LinkedIn post about his business\u2019s goal \u2014 and \u201cit went super viral.\u201d The comments encouraged Thomas to increase accessibility across all sports, from baseball to pickleball and beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter doing a bunch of research, I found the problem [spans] across almost all sports,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cEveryone\u2019s being priced out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nearly three out of five parents whose children are currently playing sports (58%) say paying for the required equipment has become a financial stress, and almost 60% of parents fear they won\u2019t be able to enroll their kids in sports next year due to rising costs, according to a recent survey from Good Sports<\/a>, a nonprofit organization driving equitable access in youth sports.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/DSC00470.jpg?w=683\")
Image Credit: Swift Hockey<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cGrowing [Swift Hockey] into other sports is really mission-aligned,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cSports were something for me as a kid that kept my mental health good, kept me out of a lot of trouble as well, and I want everyone to have that same opportunity.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
To that end, Swift Hockey offers scholarships and financial aid programs created to support youth hockey players in underserved communities, covering costs for gear, training and participation fees to reduce the financial burden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The advantages and challenges of being a young entrepreneur<\/h2>\n
Being a young entrepreneur has been a \u201cbig blessing,\u201d allowing Thomas to understand a lot of organic marketing aspects intuitively, the founder notes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Of course, growing a business as a young founder also comes with some hurdles, including access to institutional funding, which Thomas could see coming in handy down the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200aObviously, I would love to bootstrap us all the way,\u201d he says. \u201cBut more funding could definitely help us get to our goal of making hockey more affordable. We\u2019re trying to be the biggest, strongest brand that charges a reasonable price.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Running a business can be harder than anyone expects, but Thomas says it\u2019s that passion that allows him to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. The founder encourages other young people who aspire to start businesses of their own to find the idea that fuels them \u2014 then act on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This article is part of our ongoing <\/em>Young Entrepreneur\u00ae<\/em> series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a<\/em> young business owner.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\nKey Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n- Thomas grew up playing hockey and knew how costly the sport could be. <\/li>\n
- He founded Swift Hockey to bring more affordable, pro-level sticks to market. <\/li>\n
- The business is expanding into other categories and eyeing $7 million in annual revenue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Zechariah Thomas, 23, grew up playing hockey in the Ontario, Canada city of Oshawa, where the sport reigns supreme. As a result, the former minor-league pro had firsthand experience with a common problem on the ice. Players tend to break their hockey sticks 12 to 15 times a season, Thomas says \u2014 and replacements typically cost $400 to $500 each.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/DSC00527.jpg?w=1024\")
Image Credit: Swift Hockey. Zechariah Thomas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201c\u200aThose costs [are] absolutely absurd,\u201d Thomas tells Entrepreneur<\/em>. \u201cThen, going even deeper, hockey team fees average around $10,000 to $20,000 per year. That\u2019s without traveling. So hockey\u2019s dealing with this big problem, where it\u2019s almost a sport that\u2019s dying in a sense, just based on the cost of the goods.\u201d<\/p>\nThomas set out to solve that problem. In 2022, at 19 years old, he founded Swift Hockey<\/a>, selling pro-level, carbon-fiber hockey sticks at a more affordable price point \u2014 about $200.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Zechariah Thomas, 23, grew up playing hockey in the Ontario, Canada city of Oshawa, where the sport reigns supreme. As a result, the former minor-league pro had firsthand experience with a common problem on the ice. Players tend to break their hockey sticks 12 to 15 times a season, Thomas says \u2014 and replacements typically cost $400 to $500 each.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aThose costs [are] absolutely absurd,\u201d Thomas tells Entrepreneur<\/em>. \u201cThen, going even deeper, hockey team fees average around $10,000 to $20,000 per year. That\u2019s without traveling. So hockey\u2019s dealing with this big problem, where it\u2019s almost a sport that\u2019s dying in a sense, just based on the cost of the goods.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas set out to solve that problem. In 2022, at 19 years old, he founded Swift Hockey<\/a>, selling pro-level, carbon-fiber hockey sticks at a more affordable price point \u2014 about $200.\u00a0<\/p>\n The young entrepreneur bootstrapped Swift Hockey. During the pandemic, with his schedule cleared of hockey commitments, Thomas experimented with dropshipping and started several online businesses. Selling one of the ecommerce startups gave him the capital to get his next venture off the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n Additionally, Swift Hockey appeared on the Canadian reality show Dragon\u2019s Den<\/a><\/em> in 2023, just six months after the business\u2019s launch, and received three offers. Although Thomas accepted one, the deal ultimately fell through, and the business remains self-funded.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thomas applied what he\u2019d learned from his previous ecommerce businesses to Swift Hockey. Instead of focusing on distribution in brick-and-mortar sporting goods retailers like most companies selling hockey sticks, he took an online-first approach.\u00a0<\/p>\n The move isn\u2019t without its challenges, Thomas admits, as hockey players who break a stick can\u2019t practice until they have another \u2014 which means speedy acquisition is key.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, Swift Hockey\u2019s online strategy is what allows the business to hold margin while offering a lower price point and continue its steady growth. \u201cWe\u2019ve been able to grow very organically for the first two years,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cWe didn\u2019t pay $1 in advertising for the first two years, and that was able to get us to the point where we\u2019ve gotten some traction.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas plans to continue leaning into direct-to-consumer advantages. Swift Hockey is on track for $7 million in annual revenue in 2026. The company currently has about 20 employees on its staff.<\/p>\n The founder plans to build on the business\u2019s online sales with an intentional, slow expansion into brick-and-mortar suppliers. Swift Hockey recently closed two major partnerships with Play It Again Sports and Source for Sports.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, the business is expanding its product offerings beyond hockey sticks. The idea came to Thomas a while back, when he made a LinkedIn post about his business\u2019s goal \u2014 and \u201cit went super viral.\u201d The comments encouraged Thomas to increase accessibility across all sports, from baseball to pickleball and beyond.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAfter doing a bunch of research, I found the problem [spans] across almost all sports,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cEveryone\u2019s being priced out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Nearly three out of five parents whose children are currently playing sports (58%) say paying for the required equipment has become a financial stress, and almost 60% of parents fear they won\u2019t be able to enroll their kids in sports next year due to rising costs, according to a recent survey from Good Sports<\/a>, a nonprofit organization driving equitable access in youth sports.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cGrowing [Swift Hockey] into other sports is really mission-aligned,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cSports were something for me as a kid that kept my mental health good, kept me out of a lot of trouble as well, and I want everyone to have that same opportunity.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n To that end, Swift Hockey offers scholarships and financial aid programs created to support youth hockey players in underserved communities, covering costs for gear, training and participation fees to reduce the financial burden.\u00a0<\/p>\n Being a young entrepreneur has been a \u201cbig blessing,\u201d allowing Thomas to understand a lot of organic marketing aspects intuitively, the founder notes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, growing a business as a young founder also comes with some hurdles, including access to institutional funding, which Thomas could see coming in handy down the road.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aObviously, I would love to bootstrap us all the way,\u201d he says. \u201cBut more funding could definitely help us get to our goal of making hockey more affordable. We\u2019re trying to be the biggest, strongest brand that charges a reasonable price.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Running a business can be harder than anyone expects, but Thomas says it\u2019s that passion that allows him to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. The founder encourages other young people who aspire to start businesses of their own to find the idea that fuels them \u2014 then act on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n This article is part of our ongoing <\/em>Young Entrepreneur\u00ae<\/em> series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a<\/em> young business owner.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Zechariah Thomas, 23, grew up playing hockey in the Ontario, Canada city of Oshawa, where the sport reigns supreme. As a result, the former minor-league pro had firsthand experience with a common problem on the ice. Players tend to break their hockey sticks 12 to 15 times a season, Thomas says \u2014 and replacements typically cost $400 to $500 each.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aThose costs [are] absolutely absurd,\u201d Thomas tells Entrepreneur<\/em>. \u201cThen, going even deeper, hockey team fees average around $10,000 to $20,000 per year. That\u2019s without traveling. So hockey\u2019s dealing with this big problem, where it\u2019s almost a sport that\u2019s dying in a sense, just based on the cost of the goods.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas set out to solve that problem. In 2022, at 19 years old, he founded Swift Hockey<\/a>, selling pro-level, carbon-fiber hockey sticks at a more affordable price point \u2014 about $200.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nStarting a business to solve a problem in sports<\/h2>\n
Swift Hockey\u2019s DTC approach gives it a competitive edge<\/h2>\n
Expanding the business\u2019s offerings beyond hockey sticks<\/h2>\n
The advantages and challenges of being a young entrepreneur<\/h2>\n
Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
\n