What really happens behind the scenes before a professional hockey game? In Episode 15 of Peach State Puck, Matteen Rad sits down with Athens Rock Lobsters Equipment Manager Micah Swift-Taylor for a look at one of hockey's most demanding and overlooked jobs. Micah shares his unlikely journey from learning to skate in Hawaii and playing goalie in Ohio to becoming a professional equipment manager, along with what it takes to keep the Rock Lobsters ready for game night. From sharpening skates and repairing equipment to managing player preferences, last-minute signings and road-trip emergencies, Micah reveals just how much work goes into getting a team on the ice.

The conversation dives into the details fans rarely see, including why hockey players are so particular about their skate blades, how different ice conditions can change equipment decisions, and the pressure of making sure nothing gets forgotten when the team hits the road. Micah also discusses the challenges of working in Southern hockey, his dream of eventually reaching the NHL, and the extraordinary hours required on game day. For a 7:05 puck drop, his work can begin at 6 a.m. and continue until 2 or 3 the following morning. It's an inside look at the unsung work that keeps Athens Rock Lobsters hockey running.

00:00 - Welcome to Peach State Puck

01:18 - A Big Change for Rock Lobsters Broadcasts

08:56 - Meet Micah Swift-Taylor

11:12 - From Goalie to Equipment Manager

17:00 - How Micah Joined the Rock Lobsters

23:12 - Mistakes, Emergencies and Life on the Road

26:18 - The Science of Sharpening Skates

43:42 - Southern Hockey and Chasing the NHL Dream

A new era of Macon Mayhem hockey is beginning to take shape. In Episode 14 of Peach State Puck, Matteen Rad sits down with Graham Tuck, SPHL Broadcaster of the Year and voice of the Macon Mayhem, to preview the 2026-27 season. They break down a dramatically retooled roster, the heavier identity head coach Dave Pszenyczny is building, key returning players like Khaden Henry and Michael Herrera, and a goaltending group that could become one of Macon's strengths as the Mayhem look to build on their first playoff appearance in five years.

But the changes in Macon extend far beyond the ice. Tuck discusses construction of the new Macon arena, how modern technology could transform the Mayhem fan experience, and what the organization must build before moving into its future home. The conversation also dives into the arrival of the Athens Rock Lobsters as Macon's new in-state SPHL rival, the passionate hockey community that already exists in Middle Georgia, and Macon's unique place in the rapidly growing Georgia hockey landscape. With a new roster, a new rivalry and a new arena on the horizon, the Mayhem may be entering one of the most important chapters in the franchise's history.

00:00 - Welcome to Peach State Puck

03:02 - A New Era for Macon Mayhem Hockey

08:43 - Building the 2026-27 Mayhem

16:00 - Key Players and Newcomers to Watch

23:01 - Macon’s Goaltending Future

24:37 - Inside Macon’s New Arena

31:22 - A New Rivalry with Athens

36:02 - Macon’s Place in Georgia Hockey

Georgia hockey has a much deeper history than most people realize. In Episode 13 of Peach State Puck, Matteen Rad sits down with Georgia Hockey Museum founder and historian Jay Jarvis to trace the sport from Georgia's first professional hockey game in Macon in 1968 through the Atlanta Flames, Atlanta Knights, Atlanta Thrashers and today's thriving hockey communities across the state. Jarvis shares stories and artifacts from decades of Georgia hockey, including the remarkable collection he has spent years preserving and his memories of watching hockey inside Atlanta's legendary Omni.

The conversation eventually turns from history to one of Georgia hockey's biggest questions: Could the NHL succeed in Atlanta this time? Jarvis explains why the Flames and Thrashers disappeared under very different circumstances, what today's Georgia hockey landscape looks like, and why he believes the market has changed. He also reveals that more than 85 percent of his Georgia hockey collection is now connected to Vernon Krause's The Gathering at South Forsyth project, with hopes that it could someday become a public hockey museum inside a new NHL arena.

From forgotten teams and championship memories to Atlanta's pursuit of another NHL franchise, this episode explores what Georgia's hockey past can teach us about its future.

00:00 - Welcome to Peach State Puck

03:03 - Georgia Hockey News

07:04 - Meet Georgia Hockey Historian Jay Jarvis

12:36 - Preserving Georgia Hockey History

22:17 - Georgia Hockey’s Forgotten Beginnings

31:17 - The Flames, Knights and Thrashers

43:31 - Could the NHL Return to Atlanta?

52:12 - The Growth and Future of Georgia Hockey