Peach State Puck

In Episode 5 of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad shines a spotlight on the people who rarely receive the recognition they deserve but have helped shape hockey throughout Georgia for decades. While players score the goals and coaches draw up the game plans, the sport’s foundation is built by countless individuals working behind the scenes. Through an in-depth conversation with longtime ice technician, Zamboni driver, and Georgia hockey historian Kyle Schnitzer, listeners get an inside look at the passion and dedication required to keep the game alive across the Peach State.

Kyle shares his journey from growing up during the Atlanta Thrashers era to playing youth and high school hockey, working for the Atlanta Gladiators, maintaining the ice at Akins Ford Arena for the Athens Rock Lobsters, and becoming one of the most recognizable faces in Georgia hockey despite never wearing a professional jersey. Along the way, he offers a fascinating behind the scenes look at ice maintenance, arena operations, equipment management, and the countless details that fans never see but are essential to making every game possible.

The conversation also explores the remarkable growth of hockey throughout Georgia, from the expansion of youth programs and adult leagues to the arrival of new professional franchises across the state. Kyle explains why grassroots development remains the key to hockey’s future, discusses the possibility of the NHL returning to Atlanta, and reflects on why preserving Georgia’s hockey history is just as important as building its future. His work documenting the sport through the Peach State Hockey Collection has become an invaluable archive of the teams, players, and moments that have shaped hockey culture throughout the region.

Part conversation, part history lesson, and part celebration of the people working behind the scenes, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how hockey has quietly flourished in Georgia. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, an aspiring hockey professional, or someone curious about what it takes to build a successful hockey community from the ground up, this episode reveals that the future of the game depends just as much on the people behind the glass as those on the ice.

00:00 - Welcome Back to Peach State Puck

02:17 - Around Georgia Hockey

06:45 - Meet Kyle Schnitzer

15:59 - Finding a Career in Hockey

23:15 - What an Ice Manager Actually Does

28:11 - When the Ice Doesn’t Cooperate

32:07 - Can Hockey Keep Growing in Georgia?

37:24 - Preserving Georgia Hockey History

40:28 - The Future of Hockey in the Peach State

For nearly two decades, the city of Augusta, Georgia has experienced one of the most fascinating stories in minor league hockey. Two professional franchises arrived with promise. Both eventually disappeared. Now, with the return of the Augusta Lynx to the ECHL, one question remains. Can hockey finally work in Augusta?

In this episode of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad dives into the complete history of professional hockey in Augusta, tracing the rise of the original Augusta Lynx, the challenges that led to the franchise folding, the brief but memorable run of the Augusta RiverHawks, and the exciting future that awaits with a brand-new arena, experienced ownership, and renewed optimism across the city.

Joining the show is longtime athletic trainer Brian Patafie, whose four decades in professional hockey include nearly twenty years in the NHL with the Calgary Flames before helping launch the original Augusta Lynx. Brian shares incredible behind the scenes stories about building a hockey franchise from the ground up, working in the NHL, wearing the first Lynx mascot costume, the unforgettable opening night in Augusta, and the difficult organizational decisions that ultimately led to the downfall of professional hockey in the city. More importantly, he explains why he believes Augusta is finally positioned for long term success.

00:00 Will Hockey Finally Work in Augusta?

02:49 The Rise and Fall of Augusta Hockey

10:46 Why This Time Could Be Different

12:39 Brian Patafie Joins the Show

20:59 Building Hockey in Augusta

39:18 When Everything Started to Fall Apart

51:43 Why Augusta Deserves Another Chance

55:15 Georgia Hockey Is Growing

57:19 Closing Thoughts

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

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.