Most people look at an industry dominated by giants and walk the other way. At 19, Zechariah Thomas walked straight in.

Now, he’s the CEO and founder of Swift Hockey, one of the fastest-growing independent hockey brands in North America, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. In this episode, he breaks down how he started his business with no capital, no industry connections, no real blueprint — and built it to compete with industry giants.

Topics discussed:

Introduction (00:00)

Zechariah’s journey to founding Swift Hockey (01:36)

The challenges of founding a brand so young (05:04)

How they keep their product so affordable (07:14)

What he learned from his experience on Dragons’ Den (09:35)

Partnering with the PWHL (14:27)

How playing the game shaped the product (17:12)

Innovation, branding, and what sets them apart (20:13)

Advice for entrepreneurs: social media and organic Growth (23:25)

Being named a Forbes 30 Under 30 (27:12)

What brought you JOY today? (29:03)

If you’re a writer who wants to take control of your finances, read Mitlin Financial’s Write Your Financial Future: A Financial Guide for Authors: https://www.mitlinfinancial.com/insights/blog/write-your-financial-future-a-financial-guide-for-authors/

Resources:

• Sending your child to college will always be emotional but are you financially ready? Take the College Readiness Quiz for Parents: https://www.mitlinfinancial.com/college-readiness-quiz/
• Doing your taxes might not be enJOYable but being more organized can make the process less painful. Get Your Gathering Your Tax Documents Checklist: https://www.mitlinfinancial.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mitlin_ChecklistForGatheringYourTaxDocuments_Form_062424_v2.pdf
• Will you be able to enJOY the Retirement you envision? Take the Retirement Ready Quiz: https://www.mitlinfinancial.com/retirement-planning-quiz/

Connect with Larry Sprung:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencesprung/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larry_sprung/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceDSprung/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/Lawrence_Sprung

About Our Guest:

Zechariah Thomas is the CEO & Founder of Swift Hockey, one of the fastest-growing independent hockey brands in North America. After seeing firsthand how rising equipment costs were pricing families out of the game, he set out to create elite-level sticks at a price players could actually afford.

Zech’s story and the rise of Swift Hockey have been featured on Dragons’ Den as well as in Forbes, where his mission to make hockey more accessible has gained national attention. What began as a small project has grown into a global brand trusted by players from youth levels to professionals.

He now leads Swift’s innovation, product development, and partnerships as the company continues its mission to make high-performance gear available to everyone.

Connect with Zechariah Thomas:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zechthomass/
• Swift’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swifthockey/
• Website: https://swifthockey.com

Disclosure:

Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest’s content linked on this site.

This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com

Most Recent Episodes

June 23, 2026

Networking Doesn't Pay Off for Most People — Here's What Actually Works w/ Mike Adams

Your network isn't just a list of contacts. It's your most valuable asset — and most people are going about it the completely wrong way. Mike Adams, founder of IntroStars and host of The Super...

Listen · 34:17

June 17, 2026

The Quiet Mistake Every Successful Dad Is Making w/ Adam Holt

The two hardest jobs you'll ever take on come with zero training: Fatherhood and entrepreneurship. Adam Holt, co-founder of REBL Dads, is back on the show to share how the movement is supporting...

Listen · 32:51

June 10, 2026

Why Your Audience Isn't Listening (And How to Fix It in 43 Seconds) w/ Danny Brassell

You have something worth saying. So why does it feel like no one's actually listening? Storytelling expert Dr. Danny Brassell shifted his career after losing everything in a 2005 Real Estate scam by...

Listen · 34:06

Load More Episodes

Larry Sprung Host Mitlin

Lawrence “Larry” Sprung, CFP® is a husband, father, entrepreneur and mental health advocate.

Larry is the author of the Amazon Bestselling book “Financial Planning Made Personal” and the also host of the Mitlin Money Mindset™ a podcast that reminds you to ask yourself “What did you do today that brought you joy?®”

In 2004 he founded Mitlin Financial, Inc. naming the firm memory of Larry’s wife’s grandfather, Mitchell, and his mother, Linda. During his career, Larry has found that a lot of industry terms and concepts can seem confusing to outsiders. That’s why he works with the families he serves to break down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand concepts.

In recognition of Larry’s significant contributions to his profession, he has received quite a few awards. In 2021, Larry was named to the Investopedia 100 Top Advisors in 2021 and was even more humbled to make their Top Ten list for 2022.

Outside the office, one of Larry’s greatest passions is raising awareness for mental health. He spent over 12 years serving on the National Board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and sits on its financial and investment committees. With his wife, Denise, he has raised more than $1.7 million for the organization through the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. The fund was created in memory of his brother-in-law.

Larry values his family tremendously and his desire to do right by his wife and two sons drives who he is in and out of the office.