Startup Canada Podcast Swift Shift: Changing the Game with Zechariah Thomas
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Jul 1, 2025 
Zechariah Thomas, CEO and founder of Swift Hockey, discusses his transformation from pro hockey player to entrepreneur. He tackles the high costs of hockey equipment, advocating for affordable high-performance sticks to make the sport accessible. Zechariah shares his journey of resilience and innovation amidst challenges in establishing his brand and navigating competitive markets. He emphasizes the importance of social media marketing and inclusivity, particularly for aspiring young athletes and women's leagues, aiming to disrupt the expensive hockey gear industry.
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Persistence in Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship is hard and persistence is essential.
- Keep pushing by focusing on the positive impact your business makes.
Childhood Experience Drives Mission
- Zechariah saw firsthand how expensive hockey sticks excluded many kids in Oshawa.
- He used his SportChek discount to buy sticks for teammates, fueling his mission to make hockey affordable.
Durability vs Weight in Sticks
- Modern competitive hockey sticks use carbon fiber to be very lightweight but sacrifice durability.
- Players often break many expensive sticks each season, creating a huge cost burden for families.