Peach State Puck

Matteen Rad
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Hockey

Welcome to Peach State Puck, a hockey podcast covering the game across the state of Georgia and beyond. Hosted by Matteen Rad, Peach State Puck dives into the stories, personalities, rivalries, road trips, broadcasts, and culture surrounding hockey in the South. From the pro game to the growth of youth hockey in Georgia, this show is built for diehard fans, casual fans, and anyone curious about how hockey continues to thrive below the Mason-Dixon Line.

Episodes

  1. How Hockey Took Over My Life: From Georgia Kid to Hockey Broadcaster

    1d ago

    How Hockey Took Over My Life: From Georgia Kid to Hockey Broadcaster

    In Episode 2 of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad pulls back the curtain and shares the deeply personal story of how hockey became one of the defining passions of his life. What begins as a childhood memory of Atlanta Thrashers games and hockey video games evolves into an unexpected journey that spans continents, family connections, professional sports, and ultimately a career behind the microphone. Matteen recounts his unique relationship with NHL star Mika Zibanejad, his cousin and one of the most influential figures in his hockey journey. Through family trips, NHL Draft memories, championship celebrations, and firsthand experiences around some of the sport’s biggest names, listeners get an intimate look at how those moments helped spark a lifelong love of hockey. At the same time, he reflects on the winding path that led him through college broadcasting, sports information work, Atlanta United, collegiate athletics, and countless opportunities that gradually shaped him into the broadcaster he is today. The episode also explores the pivotal moment that changed everything when a newly announced hockey team in Athens, Georgia opened a door that Matteen was determined to walk through. From submitting a last-minute audition tape to calling his first professional hockey game, he shares the challenges, excitement, and sense of belonging that came from joining the Athens Rock Lobsters and discovering the broader hockey community throughout Georgia. Along the way, listeners learn about the people, relationships, and experiences that fueled his pursuit of sports broadcasting, including his fiancée Paige, his mentors, and the fans who embraced him from the very beginning. Part origin story, part love letter to hockey, and part reflection on chasing opportunities when they appear, this episode offers a personal look at the voice behind Peach State Puck and the journey that transformed a curious sports fan into one of the leading storytellers covering hockey in Georgia today. 00:00 - Introduction: How Hockey Took Over My Life 02:14 - First Hockey Memories and Atlanta Thrashers Games. 04:22 - Meeting My Cousin Mika Zibanejad 08:00 - Watching an NHL Dream Become Reality 10:00 - World Junior Gold and NHL Life Behind the Scenes 14:50 - Finding My Path in Sports Broadcasting 16:15 - Kennesaw State and My First Broadcast 22:19 - COVID Changes Everything 23:48 - Working in College Athletics and Sports Communications 24:20 - Atlanta United and Professional Sports Experience 28:51 - Expanding as a Broadcaster 31:06 - Meeting Paige and Building a Future 32:32 - Discovering the Athens Rock Lobsters 34:08 - The Audition That Changed Everything 35:25 - Calling My First Professional Hockey Game 37:00 - Why the Hockey Community Feels Different 38:51 - Fan Questions 49:20 - The Hockey Barn and Growing Hockey in Georgia 50:24 - Will Atlanta Get Another NHL Team? 51:25 - Closing Thoughts

    52 min
  2. Ep. 1: The Rise of Hockey Across the Peach State

    Jun 22

    Ep. 1: The Rise of Hockey Across the Peach State

    In the debut episode of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad explores a question that would have sounded absurd to many hockey fans just a decade ago: Has Georgia become a true hockey state? Drawing from his experiences as the play-by-play voice of the Athens Rock Lobsters, Rad takes listeners on a tour of the hockey landscape across Georgia, examining the teams, fan bases, and communities that are fueling the sport’s rapid growth throughout the South. From the stability and tradition of the Columbus River Dragons to the persistence of the Macon Mayhem, the momentum surrounding the Athens Rock Lobsters, the optimism of Augusta’s returning ECHL franchise, the resurgence of the Atlanta Gladiators, and the grassroots development efforts of the Savannah Ghost Pirates, Rad highlights the unique identity each organization brings to Georgia hockey. Along the way, he argues that Southern hockey culture has evolved into something entirely its own, blending the passion, pride, and community spirit often associated with SEC sports into an atmosphere that is helping hockey thrive in unexpected places. The episode also examines the broader future of the game in Georgia, including renewed NHL expansion conversations in Atlanta and the growing evidence that hockey is no longer fighting for acceptance in the Peach State. Instead, the question has shifted from whether hockey belongs in Georgia to just how far the sport can go. For longtime fans, newcomers, and anyone curious about the future of hockey in the South, this episode serves as both a snapshot of the current landscape and a celebration of the communities building it. 00:00 – Intro 01:01 – Meet the Host 05:28 – Columbus River Dragons 11:47 – Macon Mayhem 17:34 – Athens Rock Lobsters 21:57 – Augusta Lynx 23:42 – Atlanta Gladiators 26:09 – Savannah Ghost Pirates 29:03 – Recap for the Future

    33 min
  3. Preview: First Episode Coming Monday, June 22

    Season 1 Trailer

    Preview: First Episode Coming Monday, June 22

    The story of hockey in Georgia deserves to be told. From Columbus to Macon. Athens to Savannah. Duluth to Augusta. Every rink, every fanbase, every rivalry, every story. Peach State Puck was created to celebrate the people, teams, and communities that are growing the game in a place many people still don't think of as hockey country. Episode 1 drops next week. We'll explore why hockey feels different in Georgia, what makes our fan culture unique, and why the future of the sport in the Peach State has never been brighter. This is just the beginning. New episodes every week. Hosted by Matteen Rad.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Welcome to Peach State Puck, a hockey podcast covering the game across the state of Georgia and beyond. Hosted by Matteen Rad, Peach State Puck dives into the stories, personalities, rivalries, road trips, broadcasts, and culture surrounding hockey in the South. From the pro game to the growth of youth hockey in Georgia, this show is built for diehard fans, casual fans, and anyone curious about how hockey continues to thrive below the Mason-Dixon Line.

Information

  • Creator
    Matteen Rad
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Matteen Zibanejadrad
  • Show Website
    Peach State Puck