Breaking the Ice: The Hustle Behind Top Flight Hockey’s Million-Dollar Success

In our Pro Seller series, we spotlight a standout seller from Sideline's talented and ambitious community and offer readers a look at their process and story. This month, it's all about hockey with TopFlightHockey.

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For Quinton "Q" Oster and Dan Mikrut, two lifelong hockey enthusiasts, their million-dollar hockey business started with one simple idea.

But success didn't happen overnight. They had false stars along the way, leading them to over 15,400 sales on SidelineSwap. Their story is as inspiring as it is instructional, showcasing the grit, innovation, and teamwork required to build a business from the ice up.

From Flop to Top

The two friends first crossed paths playing high school hockey in Indiana, but it wasn't until college that they decided to join forces and start a company.

Their initial idea was to create a one-stop shop for hockey teams, supplying everything from tape to pucks—but the plan quickly fizzled.

"It was a total flop," Dan admits. "Our first overseas order on custom laces with our packaging and tape and stuff...we got hosed real bad, scammed out of most of the startup money we had at the time. So we decided to start Top Flight and focus on hockey sticks and storage room cleanouts instead."

That pivot proved to be a game-changer. The duo started reaching out to hockey teams, offering to clear out their equipment closets.

"For most teams, it comes down to a storage problem," Dan says. "They don't care where it goes. They just want it out. They have limited storage, like a closet or something. So Q and I realized we could solve a problem by digging through their stuff and taking it all at once."

Dan says they started by looking on Facebook for anything they could resell. 

"We sent thousands of emails and phone calls during our first two years and got nowhere,” Dan recalls. “And then, LA calls us back. I remember getting an incoming call from El Segundo, and I'm like, I ain't answering this. He leaves a voicemail: 'Hey, this is so and so from the LA Kings.' I'm like, are you kidding me? Finally!"

When Q and Dan booked their first big road trip, the guys admitted they didn't think it would work. But more than ten teams soon agreed to let them clean out their storage rooms. That first trip was a success, even if it left the founders with just $15 in their checking account. 

But their gamble paid off. Teams appreciated the hassle-free service, and word began to spread. "We came back with a truckload of gear," Q says. "From that point on, our pitch was: We'll take anything - new, used, broken, you name it. The teams don't have to touch anything. We go through it all, inventory it, pack it up, make an offer, and then stage it out back. We book the truck, everything. And then we fly home.

Thus, Top Flight Hockey was born in 2018, transitioning from selling just sticks to a comprehensive gear supplier.

The Road to Growth

In its early days, Top Flight Hockey faced its share of challenges. Operating out of Q's parents' basement and Dan's grandparents' pole barn, the duo relied on limited resources and boundless determination.

"The first five years, we almost went out of business two or three times because it was such a struggle to get inventory," Dan says. "But we have a lot of loyal teams now, which is nice. We get dibs on some really great items like the Vegas Golden Knights’s game jerseys we just got in."

After Q and Dan forged relationships with NHL teams and secured partnerships with major brands like CCM and Warrior, these deals transformed their inventory from primarily used gear to a mix of new and used items, increasing Top Flight’s appeal to a broader customer base.

Inventory management is a constant struggle. With so much stuff coming in, it can be hard to stay organized. "At our old warehouse, there was really no separation between unprocessed and processed inventory, so people were coming in during our open hours and stirring it all up," Dan explains. "So now that we're in a larger space, we have more of a curated retail space apart from our processing area.”

Lessons in Business

The founders agree that pricing has been critical to their success.

"When we started, we priced things too low because we needed cash flow," Q admits. "Now, we're in a position where we can afford to hold out for a fair price, which has made a big difference in our longevity."

Q and Dan have built an impressive business on the foundation of their hockey expertise while building in entrepreneurial lessons as they go. Their unique approach to sourcing and selling equipment has made them a go-to resource for teams and players.

"Our primary customer isn't getting gear for free," Dan explains. "They're probably playing in men's league or on a low-budget college team. We wanted to start Top Flight Hockey because we can get top-of-the-line equipment and sell it back to our customers for a fraction of the retail price. And we get to make some money while they're saving money. It's a good relationship to have.

The founders' passion for the sport shines through in their work. Q, in particular, gets excited about the details.

"I'm a stick guy all day, like low flex, right sticks," he says. "But I also love used steel, broken sticks, used visors. It's all about knowing what items have the highest margin and will be most useful to players."

Running a business like Top Flight Hockey requires juggling multiple roles. "Dan handles the backend—bookkeeping, bill pay, and bulk uploads to our website," Q explains. "I focus on the hands-on side—photographing, pricing, and uploading inventory."

From playing hockey together to building a business, teamwork, and trust have been the cornerstones of Top Flight’s success.

"We naturally fell into roles that suited our strengths," says Dan. "And somehow, after all these years, we're still friends. That's saying something."

Going Pro

SidelineSwap Pro has played a helpful role in Top Flight Hockey's growth—both on the platform and beyond. "Sideline has been great for us," Dan says. "The ability to export inventory has saved us so much time."

This functionality allows Q and Dan to quickly compare their inventory across different platforms without manually checking each listing. "Before, we had to email SidelineSwap's support team to get inventory data. Now, it's all at our fingertips." 

Additionally, SidelineSwap Pro provides better insights into product performance like the ability to to click on any item or swap to see the average sales price, sales volume, and sell-through rate for similar items across the marketplace, as well as a history of offers and price adjustments on your item.

"It's made scaling our operations much easier," Q adds. "We can focus on other aspects of the business while ensuring our listings stay updated and accurate."

Looking Ahead

In the coming years, Q and Dan hope to streamline their operations further, hire additional staff, and take a step back from the daily grind. 

"We love what we do, but it's been a lot of long weeks over the years," Dan admits. "Our goal is to find a balance where we can keep growing without burning out."

Their journey is a testament to the power of hard work, creativity, and resilience. From selling broken sticks to partnering with NHL teams, Top Flight Hockey's story inspires anyone looking to turn their sports passion into profit. 

Tips for Success

If you’ve made it this far, Q and Dan offer the following advice for  aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Start Small: "Don't be afraid to begin with what you have. I started by selling broken sticks online. You don't need a lot to get started."
• Adapt and Innovate: "Our original idea didn't work out, but we adapted. Be flexible and open to change."
• Build Relationships: "Treat your customers and partners well. They'll stick with you if they trust you."
• Stay Organized: "Good inventory management is key. Even if it's just a spreadsheet, it makes a world of difference."
• Research Your Pricing: "We spend a lot of time on the sold listings page of SidelineSwap. It's a great resource for what sells and for how much."

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Visit Dan and Q at Top Flight Hockey:

In-person:  13735 Alexander Street Cedar Lake, IN 46303, Open Wed - Fri: 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sat 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Online: https://sidelineswap.com/locker/TopFlightHockey

Interested in selling more on SidelineSwap? Learn more about the perks of upgrading to Pro and read more Pro Seller stories here.