Hockey is more than just a game—it is a platform for growth, discipline, leadership, and personal development. For Brandon Wong, the lessons learned throughout his professional hockey career have become the foundation of a mission dedicated to helping young athletes reach their full potential. As the founder of BW Hockey, he has built a player-focused development program that emphasizes skill development, mentorship, confidence, and character both on and off the ice. In this interview, Brandon shares his journey from professional athlete to entrepreneur, the vision behind BW Hockey, and his insights on youth development, leadership, and the future of hockey training.
The Story Behind BW Hockey
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your journey to founding BW Hockey?
Hi, Brandon Wong, from Victoria, BC, Canada and sports and hockey have been a huge part of my life. It has been a vehicle to continue the journey of life. Being able to travel around the world, play with, against and work with kids, coaches and friends around the world keeps things exciting. My sister, Leanne and I received hockey scholarships to ACAC & NCAA D1, and my brother Jordan, received an NCAA D1 Lacrosse scholarship.
I was fortunate to play professional hockey for many years in North America, Europe & Asia, experiences that allowed me to learn from different coaches, teammates, and hockey cultures around the world.
After my playing career, I wanted to give back to the kids, who I once was, and the game and to help the upcoming players develop their skills and confidence. That passion led me to found and grow my company, BW Hockey. What started as a way to share my knowledge and experience has grown into a program focused on player development, high-quality instruction, and creating a positive environment where athletes can improve both on and off the ice.
My goal with BW Hockey is simple: help players reach their potential, build confidence, challenge their skills, knowledge and character, and develop a lifelong love for the game. Opportunities will arise naturally from these principles.
The Purpose Driving BW Hockey
What inspired you to start BW Hockey, and what problem are you solving in the world today?
What inspired me to start working with kids in sports, and BW Hockey. I was looking back on my own journey through the game and seeing how many talented young players I was able to surpass or compete with, or could have improved more efficiently, got stuck in their development or situations. Over the years, I noticed that many athletes weren’t necessarily lacking talent or physical abilities—they often lacked missing steps, the right guidance, structure, and understanding of what it truly takes to improve and advance to the next level and become a real high performance athlete.
The opportunity and support to work with the youth, we are grateful. I relate it to my 15/16 year old season, first year or junior hockey, and my former Head Coach Craig Didmon believed in me, and gave me opportunities to shine on the 3rd line, and working my way up to the 1st line, and eventually winning the rookie of the year in 2003. These are the coaches and individuals that change lives.
With opportunity comes decision making, and that many parents, despite having the best intentions, often don’t have the hockey background or knowledge needed to navigate the development and decision making process. This can make it difficult to know what to do in the monthly decisions, which opportunities are worthwhile, what skills and positioning should be prioritized, and how to best support their child’s passion & growth in the sport.
Through BW Hockey, we’re helping players and families as a whole by providing professional coaching, honest guidance, and a clear development path. Our focus goes beyond skill development—we help people & athletes through building confidence, work ethic, accountability, and the habits that lead to long-term success. Putting the work in, that not many else want to.
We aim to educate both players and parents so they can make informed decisions and maximize each athlete’s potential, while keeping the game fun and rewarding along the way.
The Reality of Building a Business
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early stages of your business?
One of the biggest challenges in the early stages of BW Hockey was building out the avenues and services of the business while building a consistent and strong team of coaches, support and management.
Another major challenge is educating families about player development. Many people are looking for quick fixes or immediate results, but meaningful development takes time, consistency, and a long-term approach. Implementing habits and how they saw development. Not only on the ice, but more importantly, at home, weight room or dryland and how their minds work.
Helping players and parents understand that process was an important part of growing the business.
Like many entrepreneurs, I also had to wear multiple hats in the beginning. I wasn’t just coaching—I was handling marketing, scheduling, customer service, program planning, and business operations. Learning how to balance all of those responsibilities while continuing to provide a high-quality experience for athletes was a significant challenge.
Looking back, those early challenges helped shape BW Hockey into what it is today. They taught me the importance of building relationships, communicating with families, and staying focused on delivering value and results for every player who works with our coaching staff and mentors.
From Student-Athlete to Entrepreneur
How has your background from Quinnipiac University influenced your entrepreneurial journey?
My years at Quinnipiac University had a significant impact on my entrepreneurial journey. As a student-athlete, I learned valuable lessons about discipline, time management, accountability, and perseverance—skills that are essential when building and running a business and working with people.
My childhood, being in sports and the Quinnipiac University experience exposed me to a culture of continuous improvement. Success wasn’t just about talent; it was about preparation, teamwork, leadership, and finding ways to get better every day. Those same principles became the foundation of BW Hockey and how we approach player development.
Perhaps most importantly, my experience at Quinnipiac taught me how to work with people from different backgrounds, communicate effectively, and build meaningful relationships. Those skills have been invaluable in working with athletes, parents, coaches, and business partners.
Trends Shaping the Next Generation of Athletes
What key trends do you see shaping the future of your industry?
People are always searching for the newest thing or the key trends and the future of hockey development and youth sports for their players. One of the biggest ones is continuing to educate the players and parents on how they view player development and the importance of what they do with their time and what they are buying. For what purpose!
Players and families are looking for more personalized coaching, skill-specific instruction, and development plans tailored to individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Technology is also playing an increasingly important role. Video analysis, performance tracking, and digital communication tools are giving players and coaches better ways to evaluate progress and accelerate development. These tools allow athletes to receive feedback more efficiently and take greater ownership of their improvement.
Another important trend is the growing focus on long-term athlete development. Like our C&C Mentorship- Coaching & Consulting Mentorship Package, More families are recognizing that success is not about early specialization or short-term results, but about building strong fundamentals, confidence, athleticism, and a lifelong passion for the game.
I also believe mentorship and education will become even more valuable. Parents and players are faced with more options, opportunities and decisions than ever, and they need trusted and experienced guidance to help them navigate development pathways, training opportunities, and the realities of competitive hockey.
Listening, Learning, and Growing
How do you stay innovative and adapt in a competitive market?
Staying innovative in a competitive market comes down to being approachable and connected to the athletes and constantly listening to their needs. It can help with personality and building relationships. The enjoyment to work with athletes and parents where I once was in their position of the unknown and guessing. When players are struggling, what parents are asking for, and where gaps exist in traditional development programs. That feedback drives how we evolve BW Hockey.
I also stay committed to continuous learning and being a student of the game. With hockey evolving, we make sure we are learning from other coaches, studying modern development systems, and applying what has worked.
At the core, innovation for BW Hockey isn’t about doing something flashy—it’s about doing what is right for the player and person’s development. Forward progression while keeping a hold of confidence and work ethic, you just never know what the future holds.
Lessons for Future Entrepreneurs
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own venture?
I would suggest writing down your visions, have a bit of a plan, and purpose. Stay true to what you are doing and how you see it coming to fruition. With passion, work ethic you will notice you can attract the right people and receive support from those who believe in you and your vision.
Building Better Athletes and Better People
What do your employees and coaches say about BW Hockey’s mission, mentorship philosophy, and the impact it has on young athletes and the broader community?
BW Coach Justin Brand shared: BW Hockey’s purpose is as much about developing hockey players as much as it is about developing good people. As a BW Hockey coach, I see mentorship as an opportunity to teach valuable life skills through sport. Our goal is to equip players with skills on the ice but also with skills that will translate to the ice and to their respective teams. Qualities like work ethic, accountability, teamwork will not only elevate the individual’s hockey skills but also the peers around them with the ultimate hope that this continues throughout life. What I enjoy about it most is seeing kids mature through small acts, everything from patting team mates on the back and celebrating assists to cleaning up the dressing room and holding doors when leaving the rink.
The Value of Patience in Player Development
What do your coaches see that goes unrecognized or underappreciated from their on & off ice teachings and their playing career?
BW Coach Justin Brand shared: From my perspective, what goes unrecognized from my career in Toronto minor hockey and at the University of Toronto, is the different development timelines of kids. Development happens across years, I myself probably had my greatest development period from the ages of 17-19 throughout my final years of AAA minor hockey and early in Junior hockey. Patience is a virtue, and if your kid genuinely enjoys coming to the rink long enough development of the “elite” mindset will develop naturally and parallel development in on-ice performance.
More Than Goals and Points
What do your coaches want to share with parents & families of the kids?
BW Coach Garry Nunn shared: We want parents to know that progress isn’t always about just goals or points. Sometimes the biggest growth comes from a player gaining confidence, learning to handle challenges, becoming a better teammate, or simply developing a stronger love for the game. Those are the things we value just as much as hockey skills.
Final Thoughts on Leadership, Mentorship, and Player Development
Brandon Wong’s journey from professional hockey player to founder of BW Hockey reflects a deep commitment to developing not only skilled athletes but also confident, disciplined, and experienced & resilient individuals. Through his focus on mentorship, player development, and long-term growth, he and his coaching staff continue to make a positive impact on young athletes and their families. His insights highlight the importance of patience, hard work, and creating an environment where players can thrive both on and off the ice. We sincerely thank Brandon Wong for sharing his experiences, perspectives, and valuable lessons with our readers, and we wish him and BW Hockey continued success in the years ahead.
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