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
