29-year-old Windsor, Ontario native Jesse "Thrash94" Garant is an EA NHL Content Creator. Jesse shares his connection to hockey, how he merged his passion for the sport and content creation, and provides insights into the future of his career and the content creation industry.
Background
Born on August 6th, 1994, Jesse "Thrash94" Garant was exposed to hockey from a young age, and he quickly fell in love with the game. "I have loved hockey from a very young age (two-ish). My earliest memories of life are sitting with my grandfather, watching Hockey Night in Canada. My entire family is hockey nerds."
Jesse's earliest story of watching Hockey Night in Canada is an experience shared by many passionate hockey fans, and for him, it also included exploring Chel content creators. Jesse shares, "In early 2017, my girlfriend (now wife) went to college in a different city. I would sit around and watch different YouTubers like JonTron, XTech, BaconCountry, and RoosterTeeth."
Captivated by these illustrious Chel content creators, Jesse decided to give it a shot. However, interestingly, his content creation journey started outside of Chel. "One day, I just decided to start making videos alone. I figured if I was going to be playing the games anyways, I might as well. I did not start with NHL. I played a lot of Horror games and Rage inducing games."
Chel Content Creation Career
Over time and patiently, Jesse merged his content creation aspiration with his passion for hockey. He shares, "I caught my big break in NHL 17 after playing a very angry young man (Shoutout to Eddie)."
Since then, Jesse has been a mainstay content creator in the chel space, amassing over 41 500 subscribers on YouTube and over 18 000 followers on Twitch. A key ingredient to Jesse's success is being adaptable to constantly evolving spaces in this tech-driven world. He shares, "I mainly create content on Youtube and Twitch. When I started, I did not watch any other site besides YouTube. Over a few years, I was convinced to start streaming on Twitch and developed a following quickly."
Thus, given Jesse's inept ability to understand industry trends and the latest affordances in this tech-driven world, developing a quick following on Twitch is no surprise.
Over the years, Jesse also formed partnerships and collaborated with other content creators and brands. He has worked with creators like TacTixHD, who has over 130 000 subscribers on YouTube. As part of the EA Design Council, Jesse collaborates with EA and gives them feedback regarding the game. He is also a content creator for Lazarus Esports and has partnered with brands like Chevrolet, Hockey Canada, Warrior Hockey, and Logitech through them.
Skillset, Community Feedback, Branching Out
Content creators generally have their strengths and something that stands out about them that intrigues and captivates their audience. When asked about his content creation style, Jesse shares, "I like to describe my content as the light side of NHL. I try to have fun. I am goofy by nature, so I use a lot of jokes and sarcasm as I make content, and I try not to take things so seriously."
Furthermore, Jesse has a heightened awareness of what gaming is supposed to be at its root. He shares, "After all, it is a video game. It is meant to be fun." Thus, Jesse's content creation style is a welcome sight in a gaming world constantly fueled by competitiveness and eSports.
Another critical ingredient to Jesse's success is his openness to getting feedback and ideas from his audience. He shares, "I am always seeking feedback and ideas from my community. If they like something, I want to know so I can continue to produce that specific thing. My community has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, which has allowed me to become more than just an "NHL" creator. I'm more of an entertainer."
Jesse's comment about being more than an NHL creator provides insights into the fact that chel content creation is part of him, but it is not the end all be all.
"Long term, I would like to turn my career into more than just videos and streams. I want to pursue voice acting and voiceover work. My strongest asset is my voice and personality; I hope to use them to get further in my career. I have already had a couple of roles in Indy games (Shoutout to Kimulators Films), so hopefully that continues."
Jesse's ability to branch into other communities and industries is a testament to his ambition, work ethic, skillset awareness, and recognition that one is never limited to their current focus of content creation or work in general.
Future of NHL Content Creation
Despite his interest in branching into other industries besides Chel content creation, he makes it clear that the future of the NHL gaming scene has lots of potential. He says, "The future of the NHL scene is bright, I believe. If EA can produce a game people are excited about, many new creators will come out and get their shot to shine. We have already had some creators popping into the scene and making a name for themselves lately (Pasta, BurtKrown88, and others), especially with YouTube shorts and TikTok."
Jesse's comments are enlightening, as he touches on critical steps that can help bring that potential to fruition. They include a solid game product from EA Sports which will motivate and inspire new content creators into the space, and increased awareness about the benefits of YouTube shorts and TikTok that help elevate the experience and following of NHL gaming.
Tips for Aspiring Content Creators
Speaking of elevating, aspiring content creators might be reading this and wondering how they, too, can elevate themselves and their content. Jesse shares, "If you want to pursue a career in content creation, there are a few things to remember. First off, is that it is not going to happen overnight. Building a brand, a following, and a community takes time. Do not get discouraged if it does not click right away."
Patience, perseverance, and hard work are critical. As Jesse further shares, "Another thing to keep in mind is that tens of thousands of others are trying to do the same thing, so you HAVE to stand out. Personality is key. Lastly, have fun. If you are having fun with your content, the viewers will also have fun. Your audience can tell when you are faking it. Make sure it is genuine."
Jesse's tips are valuable, and his comment about having fun is especially critical. Many aspiring content creators are bogged down that they forget to take it easy on themselves and enjoy what they are doing for what it is, content creation and gaming as something fun. Jesse's journey reminds us that everything else, including growth and success, is secondary to that aspect.
Conclusion
As we near the end of this story, Jesse has one final word for those that have always supported him and his content creation career. He says, "As I close in on my 29th birthday, I cannot help but wonder where I would be if it were not for YouTube, Twitch, and of course, the community itself. I truly did not have a direction when I started doing this, and I am so grateful. Thanks to everyone who has tuned into my channels and given me a shot to be a full-time creator. You all rock."
To learn more about Jesse and explore his content, check out his following socials: Twitter, YouTube, and Twitch.