Peach State Puck

Matteen Rad

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

    1d ago

    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

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.