The landscape of the FPHL is changing, and the Columbus River Dragons believe their opportunity has arrived.

In Episode 11 of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad sits down with Columbus River Dragons captain and number 11 Kirk Underwood for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, Southern hockey, the changing face of the FPHL, and a Columbus team entering the 2026-27 season with one unmistakable objective: win a championship.

Before heading to Columbus, Matteen breaks down a potentially significant development in the effort to bring NHL hockey back to Atlanta. The group behind The Gathering in Forsyth County says it has secured financing for an NHL team and submitted its final approval packet, while the first phase of construction began September 1. No NHL franchise has been awarded, but Matteen examines why the latest development could represent another important step in Atlanta’s pursuit of the league.

Then it’s time for Captain Kirk. Underwood opens up about what wearing the “C” means to him and why leadership has always been about relationships rather than a letter on his jersey. He discusses his bond with longtime Columbus hockey figure Jerome “Boom Boom” Bechard, his desire to eventually pursue coaching, and the unusual reality of being both a player and the River Dragons’ Director of Sales. For Underwood, Columbus has become much more than another stop in his hockey career.

The conversation also explores why hockey continues to thrive in a place many outsiders would never consider a traditional hockey market. Underwood recalls arriving in Columbus without initially realizing he was headed to Georgia and being stunned by a fan base that already knew his name before he stepped onto the ice. He credits the foundation established by generations of Columbus hockey, particularly the Cottonmouths, with creating the community and family atmosphere the River Dragons inherited and continue to build today.

But the biggest story is what comes next. The FPHL is entering a dramatically different era, with expansion reaching California, established contenders changing, and familiar rivals leaving the league. Underwood discusses the opportunities and uncertainties created by that new landscape, the importance of maintaining Columbus’ veteran core, and the teams he believes could stand between the River Dragons and the Commissioner’s Cup.

Then he makes the expectations unmistakable. Columbus is not rebuilding. It is not preparing for some future window. After four consecutive seasons ending in Game 3 of the second round, Underwood knows how painful playoff hockey can be and how quickly another opportunity can disappear.

For the River Dragons, it’s championship or bust.

That mentality makes their October 23 home opener especially compelling. Waiting inside the Dragons Den will be the three-time defending Commissioner’s Cup champion Binghamton Black Bears, a team responsible for two of the most lopsided losses Underwood remembers experiencing in Columbus. He doesn’t hide from the history. He wants another shot at them, and this time, he says, it’s personal.

Episode 11 is ultimately about a veteran captain, an experienced core and a franchise that knows opportunities like this don’t last forever. Some of Columbus’ longtime players may be approaching the final chapters of their careers, and Underwood isn’t interested in wasting what’s left.

00:00 - Welcome to Peach State Puck

03:57 - Major NHL to Atlanta Update

05:54 - Meet Captain Kirk Underwood

09:40 - Leadership and Columbus Hockey

16:30 - Why Hockey Works in Columbus

20:16 - The FPHL’s Changing Landscape

26:14 - Championship or Bust

34:27 - Binghamton: This One Is Personal

How does a professional hockey team in coastal Georgia sell out every single home game it plays?

In Episode 10 of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad heads south to uncover the formula behind one of the most remarkable success stories in Georgia hockey. Savannah Ghost Pirates Broadcasting and Media Relations Manager Isaac Basinger joins the show to explain how a young ECHL franchise has built a passionate fan base, packed Enmarket Arena night after night, and transformed Savannah into a legitimate hockey community.

After opening with the latest developments surrounding Atlanta’s pursuit of an NHL franchise, including progress on the proposed North Point Mall redevelopment in Alpharetta, Matteen turns his attention to a Georgia city that may already provide a blueprint for building a successful hockey market. Isaac shares his journey from his hometown Wheeling Nailers to becoming the voice of the Ghost Pirates and explains what immediately stood out when he arrived in Savannah, including something almost unimaginable in many minor league markets: packed stands regardless of the team’s record.

The conversation dives into the Ghost Pirates’ connection with Savannah and why the organization has succeeded in making hockey feel like part of the city’s identity. From community appearances and military outreach to youth hockey and opportunities for fans to interact directly with players, Isaac explains how the organization has built relationships that extend far beyond what happens on the ice. That investment is about to grow even larger with the opening of the Ice Cove in Port Wentworth, bringing two year-round ice sheets, expanded youth and adult hockey opportunities, tournaments, public skating, and a permanent practice home for the Ghost Pirates.

Then comes the number that defines Savannah’s success. After Matteen points to a 95 percent sellout rate, Isaac makes an incredible correction. With adjustments to Enmarket Arena’s capacity accounted for, the Savannah Ghost Pirates have sold out 100 percent of their home games across all four seasons of the franchise’s existence. Together, they explore why fans continue filling the building, how game presentation turns each night into an event, and why the experience has remained popular even before the team’s first trip to the ECHL playoffs.

Isaac also discusses the Ghost Pirates’ relationship with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, head coach Jared Staal’s vision for a fast and aggressive team, Savannah’s rising expectations following its first playoff appearance, and what an NHL franchise returning to Atlanta could mean for hockey throughout Georgia.

Ultimately, Episode 10 asks a question that reaches far beyond Savannah: What does it actually take to create a hockey market? The Ghost Pirates’ answer appears to be bigger than wins and losses. Build an identity that belongs to the city. Invest in the community. Give people opportunities to experience and play the sport. Create a game night worth coming back to. Then turn casual spectators into hockey fans.

Savannah has done exactly that, and the results speak for themselves.

00:00 - Welcome to Peach State Puck

02:02 - Atlanta’s NHL Pursuit

05:06 - Meet Isaac Basinger

08:00 - Building Hockey in Savannah

12:46 - The Ice Cove Changes Everything

15:38 - How Savannah Sells Out Every Game

19:30 - Building a Winning Hockey Team

25:39 - What an NHL Team Could Mean for Georgia

Something is changing in Atlanta hockey. In Episode 9 of Peach State Puck, host Matteen Rad dives inside the Atlanta Gladiators’ major announcement and what it reveals about the organization’s attempt to reconnect with its history, its fans, and the hockey identity that helped define the franchise.

At the center of the episode is the Gladiators’ return to maroon, a move that represents much more than a uniform change. Matteen explores the history behind the team’s colors, the fan response that helped influence the decision, and why embracing the past could play an important role in building the Gladiators’ future. The conversation also examines the organization’s upcoming Hockey Heritage Weekend and its efforts to celebrate the larger history of professional hockey in Atlanta.

Through a conversation with Guy Chiarenza, the Gladiators’ broadcasting and communications director, listeners get an inside perspective on the thinking behind the announcement, the importance of listening to supporters, and the challenge of creating an identity that feels both fresh and familiar. The episode looks beyond logos and jerseys to explore how a professional sports organization builds a meaningful connection with the community it represents.

That conversation becomes even more significant as metro Atlanta finds itself at the center of renewed NHL speculation. With efforts underway to bring the league back to Georgia, Matteen examines what another NHL franchise could mean for the Gladiators, whether the two could coexist, and how increased attention on hockey could potentially strengthen the sport at every level across the region.

00:00 - Welcome Back to Peach State Puck

03:58 - Around Georgia Hockey

08:37 - The Gladiators’ Big Announcement

13:20 - Back to Maroon

18:48 - Rebuilding the Gladiators Identity

25:31 - Listening to the Fans

31:42 - Celebrating Atlanta Hockey History

38:17 - Hockey Heritage Weekend

44:36 - Growing Hockey in Atlanta

50:52 - What Would the NHL Mean?

56:41 - The Future of the Gladiators