Show Notes
The former junior player trying to make hockey cheaper.
Scott and Jamie sit down with Zechariah Thomas, founder and CEO of Swift Hockey, to talk about the rising cost of hockey and why more families are getting priced out of the game. Zechariah shares his unconventional hockey journey - starting at age 10, playing major junior and pro hockey, and building businesses while still playing. He explains how seeing teammates struggle to afford equipment inspired him to start Swift Hockey and why he's obsessed with making the game more accessible. The conversation covers hockey stick myths, expensive equipment, prep school costs, youth hockey spending, and the reality that parents often spend money in places that don't actually help development. In this episode: Starting hockey at 10 and still reaching the junior/pro level Why hockey is becoming unattainable for many families Why kids don't need a $400 stick Building a hockey company from the trunk of a car If you've ever wondered whether youth hockey is getting too expensive, this episode is for you.
Swift Hockey: https://swifthockey.com/
Partners: https://www.pacificrink.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/ https://hockeytraining.com/ https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads https://howieshockeytape.com/ https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/ Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/
More from Crazy Hockey Dads Podcast
The best team isn't always the best place for your kid to develop.
The pressure meant to help a young player succeed may be the very thing holding them back.
The best development does not always come from the best team, the most expensive lesson, or the loudest car ride home. Recorded live at The Hockey Barn in Atlanta, Scott and Jamie sit down with founder and longtime coach Kyle Kinze. Kyle explains how a pulmonary embolism ended his playing career at 19, why he turned to coaching, and why he built a place centered on access, creativity, free play, and community. Kyle gets honest about growing up with a perfectionist father, changing the car ride home with his own kids, and learning that coaching a player starts with understanding the person. Scott and Jamie add their own hard-earned mistakes about expensive training, chasing higher-level teams, and pushing kids toward a version of hockey they may not want. The conversation also tackles choosing the coach over the jersey, valuing puck touches and ice time, watching for burnout, and giving kids enough room to fall in love with the game on their own terms. In this episode: Why free play and creativity are essential to development Better questions for the car ride home Choosing the right coach over the best team Building The Hockey Barn around training, competing, and belonging Live questions on speed, endurance, coachability, and tournament hockey Coach the human, protect the love of the game, and let development follow. The Hockey Barn: https://thehockeybarnatl.com/ The Hockey Barn IG: https://www.instagram.com/thehockeybarnatl/ Partners: https://www.pacificrink.com/ https://hockeytraining.com/ https://sparxhockey.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bigjohndangles/ https://www.titanbattlegear.com/crazyhockeydads https://howieshockeytape.com/ https://www.athleticperformanceinsight.com/ Socials: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crazyhockeydadspodcast X: https://x.com/Crazyhockeydads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazyhockeydadspodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Crazy-Hockey-Dads-Podcast/61578631923150/
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