Brandon and Craig met at Quinnipiac University in 2019, where they were teammates on the school’s Ice Hockey Team, and also roommates.  It was here they discovered that off the ice, they both shared a passion for paddle-sports, specifically tennis and ping pong.  They enjoyed friendly competition in these games outside of their academic and athletic careers.

Fast forward to 2024, Brandon and Craig are still teammates playing professional Ice Hockey for the Jacksonville Icemen, and they’re also still roommates!

While living in Jacksonville, they got exposed to the game of pickleball and immediately fell in love.  They appreciated that the game was played outside in beautiful Floridian weather, like tennis, and could be enjoyed by players with a variety of different skillsets, like ping pong.  The idea of creating a community around the love of the game dawned on Brandon and Craig.

And thus…Pickleball Panther was born.

Their goal is to build a tight-knit community, fostered through social media, tournaments, and local events, that values fitness and health, while also offering players high quality paddles.  Pickleball Panther encourages people to go outside and be active, regardless of age.  Built on these key fundamentals and ideals, it's an environment where knowledge is shared, skills are honed, and better habits are forged.

If Pickleball Panther can help convert more people into living healthier lifestyle, then Brandon and Craig have ultimately fulfilled their goals.