Owning a small business and playing professional hockey have more in common than you might imagine.
For starters, both roles are built different, and require astounding perseverance and work ethic as they achieve their goals. You don’t become a thriving business — or an NHL Player, for that matter — without going the extra mile.
From Calgary to the NHL
Cale Makar (Intuit Quickbooks)
Many professional hockey players are fueled and built by local businesses well before they ever make the NHL. Take Cale Makar, for example.
Calgary-born Makar plays defense for the Colorado Avalanche, where he and the team won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Makar has also played for Team Canada, winning gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships, and is widely considered one of the NHL’s best defensive players.
But before he was any of those things, he was a kid from Calgary with a heart full of dreams — and a head full of hockey hair.
“One of the small businesses in Calgary that I love is called Manz Barber,” says Makar. “I always get my hair cut by my man Zee. I’ve been going to him for maybe 15 years, and it’s always a great experience.”
Built different
Mikhail Nilov/Pexels
In honour of the impact small businesses have on NHL Players like Makar, Intuit QuickBooks, the NHL, and the NHLPA have committed to a multi-year partnership to bring unique experiences and business solutions to fans and entrepreneurs alike.
Intuit QuickBooks is Canada’s one-stop shop for financial management, with products and tools that include accounting, payroll, time tracking, and more. AKA, they help take care of the little details so that you can focus on the bigger picture because when you’re an entrepreneur, you have to treat every day like game day.
“Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of grit and determination, and that same grit and determination is needed if you’re an athlete,” Makar explains. “As you grow and go from level to level, you want to keep getting better. And as an entrepreneur, you’re always learning and growing your business, too. For both, it’s all about constant evolution and the will to keep moving forward,” Makar tells Daily Hive.
Celebrating small businesses
Manz Barber/Intuit Quickbooks
You don’t have to get your hair cut by Zee or enjoy a pie from Varsity Pizza (one of Makar’s other favourite Calgary spots) to support local. There are thousands of small businesses throughout Calgary — not to mention the rest of Canada!
“When you walk into a small business, you know you’re getting a personal experience that’s unique to you,” remarks Makar. “Especially in Calgary. It’s always nice to support smaller businesses when you have the opportunity to because they offer and give back to the communities we live and work in.”
You can show your appreciation by supporting your favourite local businesses in Canada. And if you’re an owner yourself, be sure to learn more about what Intuit QuickBooks can do for you.