PUCK YEAH! New Zealand's hockey podcast is back.

We're sorry it's taken this long but it's been a busy NZIHL season and we're just two guys, so the podcast had to take a short hiatus while we focused on providing all the visual and written coverage for what was an exciting season.

The past month has seen the West Auckland Admirals crowned NZIHL champions for the first time in the team's history and the New Zealand Ice Blacks claimed a historic series win over the Australia Mighty Roos at the 2018 Winter Games.

One player who's been a key part of both sides for many seasons now is goalie Rick Parry. The masked man recently joined us at the Puck Yeah studios to chat about his career highlights, including doing the Kurt Baker Challenge twice, playing under the bright lights of Spark Arena, and the 2011 IIHF tournament in Melbourne.

Quick note: Puck Yeah will no longer be a weekly podcast. You can still expect features and interviews to run on our website and Facebook page regularly, but podcasts will be typically saved for discussing the big topics and longer-form interviews.

This week we're joined in the studio by one of the original West Auckland Admirals, Steven Huish! He's been with the team since the NZIHL began in 2005 but only recently retired to focus on other ventures - we look back at some of the best and worst years for the Admirals and how things have changed since those early days.

This week we're joined in the studio by one of the original West Auckland Admirals, Steven Huish! He's been with the team since the NZIHL began in 2005 but only recently retired to focus on other ventures - we look back at some of the best and worst years for the Admirals and how things have changed since those early days.

Travis Crickard is currently in New Zealand working as the Botany Swarm's assistant coach for the 2018 NZIHL season. Bringing his expertise in breaking down plays via video analysis, Travis is challenging the Swarm to think about the game differently as they strive to get back on top of the league.

He joins us in the studio this week to talk about his NZIHL summer job, his pathway to the Kelowna Rockets and how a Canadian major junior hockey team operates, plus learning how to be a better coach from the All Blacks.

Travis Crickard is currently in New Zealand working as the Botany Swarm's assistant coach for the 2018 NZIHL season. Bringing his expertise in breaking down plays via video analysis, Travis is challenging the Swarm to think about the game differently as they strive to get back on top of the league.

He joins us in the studio this week to talk about his NZIHL summer job, his pathway to the Kelowna Rockets and how a Canadian major junior hockey team operates, plus learning how to be a better coach from the All Blacks.

The NZIHL drops the puck on the 2018 season this weekend and on this week's podcast Logan and Joe do a whip-around of the league, calling up all five teams to see how their preparations have fared following the pre-season.

Thank you to Travis Gibbons (Thunder head coach), Adam Blanchette (Stampede head coach), Chris Eaden (Red Devils captain), Nick Craig (Admirals alternate captain), and Ian Wannamaker (Swarm head coach) for taking the time to chat with us. Special mention goes to Justin Daigle...you'll know why if you listen.

The NZIHL drops the puck on the 2018 season this weekend and on this week's podcast Logan and Joe do a whip-around of the league, calling up all five teams to see how their preparations have fared following the pre-season.

Thank you to Travis Gibbons (Thunder head coach), Adam Blanchette (Stampede head coach), Chris Eaden (Red Devils captain), Nick Craig (Admirals alternate captain), and Ian Wannamaker (Swarm head coach) for taking the time to chat with us. Special mention goes to Justin Daigle...you'll know why if you listen.

Puck Yeah ran a feature back in December introducing the hockey world to Wellington's first ever team, the Seals. They're a chilled out bunch of guys and girls who just want to play the game, they don't care who their opponents are or what the rink might look like.

We might as well start writing that Disney movie script because this team is all about Kiwi ingenuity on ice! Taika Waititi is slated to direct it (not actually, but call us bro).

Since that introduction, the Wellington Seals have gone on to play in the BHL's Holiday Classic tournament and more recently the 2018 New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin. The team have big plans for that crucial game time, including making the trip south for the Erewhon Cup.

Luke Turner calls in to chat about the origins of the team, their unique training environment and how they've transitioned to bigger sheets of ice, the insane amount of beer that gets drunk during a rec league tournament, plus is this the beginning of a possible NZIHL team in Wellington?

Puck Yeah ran a feature back in December introducing the hockey world to Wellington's first ever team, the Seals. They're a chilled out bunch of guys and girls who just want to play the game, they don't care who their opponents are or what the rink might look like.

We might as well start writing that Disney movie script because this team is all about Kiwi ingenuity on ice! Taika Waititi is slated to direct it (not actually, but call us bro).

Since that introduction, the Wellington Seals have gone on to play in the BHL's Holiday Classic tournament and more recently the 2018 New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin. The team have big plans for that crucial game time, including making the trip south for the Erewhon Cup.

Luke Turner calls in to chat about the origins of the team, their unique training environment and how they've transitioned to bigger sheets of ice, the insane amount of beer that gets drunk during a rec league tournament, plus is this the beginning of a possible NZIHL team in Wellington?

The 2018 Ice Hockey Classic is just over a month away! Recently Puck Yeah co-host Logan racked up an expensive phone bill calling Finland and Toronto to speak with Team Canada captain Nolan Yonkman and coach Paul Rosen ahead of their arrival in New Zealand.

It's not all #IceHockeyClassic talk however. Yonkman delves into his playing career including being the only Canadian on a Finnish side that won the 2018 Champions Hockey League, while Rosen has one of the most inspirational sports stories you'll ever hear. Plus we talk about the recent tragedy surrounding the Humboldt Broncos and what they plan to do to help the survivors.

(The phone bill wasn't that bad really. Skype credit is a saviour for a podcast like us!)