In Episode 3 of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad takes listeners behind the curtain of professional hockey to reveal a side of the game that fans rarely get to experience. While the action on the ice lasts just 60 minutes, the real story of minor league hockey unfolds during the countless hours spent on buses, in hotel rooms, at roadside restaurants, and in arenas scattered across North America. From overnight drives and early morning flights to unforgettable team dinners and locker room traditions, Matteen shares firsthand stories from his time traveling with the Athens Rock Lobsters that capture both the excitement and exhaustion of life on the road.

The episode explores the realities that come with working in professional hockey beyond the spotlight. Matteen reflects on the pressure of his first road trip, learning to earn the respect of players and coaches, navigating embarrassing travel mishaps, witnessing unforgettable moments of camaraderie, and discovering why the bonds formed during long road trips become the foundation of successful hockey teams. He also opens up about the personal sacrifices required to pursue a dream career, including the missed family events, long stretches away from loved ones, and the emotional balancing act that comes with dedicating your life to the game.

Joining the show is Columbus River Dragons broadcaster Devin Dobek, whose remarkable journey through some of the most challenging situations in minor league hockey provides an honest and often hilarious look at the profession. From bus breakdowns and emergency travel plans to unforgettable encounters on the road and the realities of working for developing organizations, Devin shares stories that perfectly capture the unpredictable nature of life in the lower levels of professional hockey. Together, Matteen and Devin discuss what keeps broadcasters, players, and hockey staff coming back despite the long hours and difficult conditions, while celebrating the passion, friendships, and unforgettable memories that make the journey worthwhile.

Whether you are a lifelong hockey fan, an aspiring broadcaster, or simply someone fascinated by the unseen side of professional sports, this episode offers an authentic and entertaining look at the people who sacrifice comfort, stability, and countless weekends in pursuit of the game they love. It is a reminder that while championships are won on the ice, some of the greatest stories in hockey happen long before the puck is dropped.

00:00 - The Bus League Begins

00:56 - Georgia Hockey News Around the State

06:05 - Life on the Road with the Athens Rock Lobsters

29:23 - The Hidden Cost of Chasing a Dream

33:18 - Meet Devin Dobek

41:50 - Broken Buses and Minor League Hockey Chaos

54:18 - The Sacrifices Behind the Microphone

56:52 - A New Beginning in Columbus

01:10:17 - The Future of Georgia Hockey

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

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