Mission Control: Houston's Hockey Podcast

Touring the Construction of Deep South Ice & Sports Complex - Future Home of the Bulls

For my audio-only friends: I don't know how well this one's going to translate. Video is posted on YouTube, Rumble, and Spotify. Friends and neighbors, we are taking you behind the scenes for a construction tour of the brand-new Deep South Ice & Sports Complex in Richmond, Texas! TC Lewis graciously walks Mission Control through the massive construction site to check on the progress ahead of the facility's August grand opening and the NAHL Houston Bulls' home opener on October 2nd. We get a first look at the state-of-the-art main arena, featuring 10 luxury suites, a massive party deck, and a uniquely designed press box that brings the crowd noise straight to the broadcasters. TC also shows off the sites of the facility's massive pro shop, the incoming restaurant and sports bar, the 4-court volleyball center, and the dedicated practice rink featuring seamless sled-hockey access. Houston is getting another world-class ice facility! You've been wondering what it looks like in there, so let's check it out!I was asked not to film workers, so where you see a video loop, or the camera going down - that's where I inadvertently filmed someone working, and edited accordingly. ...and if the mic picked up business being conducted, I muted it. Seemed like the thing to do. (and I'm learning about exposure - that's not the lights dimming, that's the camera) Thanks to TC for letting us in! 00:00 - Getting Started / The Practice Rink 06:20 - Locker Rooms 09:22 - Lower Level - Main Arena 18:13 - Second Floor - Arena Access / Party Deck 24:00 - Third Floor - Machinery / SuitesFor more on Deep South Ice: https://www.deepsouthice.com/Support Local Hockey!Houston Bulls: https://www.houstonbullsnahl.comUniversity of Houston: https://www.uhicehockey.orgRice University: https://www.instagram.com/ricehockeyInterscholastic Hockey League: http://www.ishl.orgHouston Junior Aeros: https://www.houstonjunioraeros.com/HTX Storm: http://https://www.htxstorm.com/ Get you some sexy Mission Control merch at: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - there's also an events calendar, too. Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.

Austin vs. Houston - the NHL Expansion Face-Off with Jennifer Streeter

Mission Control Houston's Hockey Podcast is back, and the NHL expansion rumors have officially exploded into a $3.5 billion reality! Following the NHL Board of Governors' massive announcement that the league is exploring a 33rd franchise in Texas, the battle between Houston and Austin is officially on. To make sense of the chaos, we are joined by Jennifer Streeter—hockey reporter for On SI for Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News, and the "Top Insider" for the Houston Bulls. Jenny breaks down Dan Friedkin's massive investment and clears the air on the biggest local rumors: why Tilman Fertitta is out, and exactly why sharing the Toyota Center with the Rockets and the incoming WNBA franchise simply won't work for an NHL schedule. We also dive deep into the demographic data, crunching Houston and Austin's USA Hockey enrollment numbers, population trends, and TV market rankings to see which city truly has the upper hand. Finally, we discuss how the Space City community can prove it deserves the NHL by packing the stands for the NAHL's Houston Bulls and local NCAA club teams right now!00:00 - Intro08:34 - Wait, I thought it was supposed to be Atlanta vs. Houston...18:55 - Junior / ECHL / NHL - Can Houston Do All Three?25:42 - Matt Nerds Out on Data36:12 - The Toyota Center QuestionFollow Jennifer Streeter on X: https://www.x.com/jennystreeter3Check out her work:Breakway on OnSI: https://www.si.com/onsi/breakaway/authors/jennifer-streeterThe Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/author/jennifer-streeterSupport Local Hockey!Houston Bulls: https://www.houstonbullsnahl.comUniversity of Houston: https://www.uhicehockey.orgRice University: https://www.instagram.com/ricehockeyGet you some sexy Mission Control merch at: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - there's also an events calendar, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.NHLtoHouston,NHL,Houston,Houston Sports,Houston Texas,Houston Aeros,Houston TX,NHL Shorts,HoustonIsAHockeyTown,NHL expansion,Hockey,Aeros,Houston Bulls,NAHL,Houston Hockey,NHL Expansion,Austin,austin hockey,austin nhl expansion,houston nhl expansion,houston hockey,jennifer streeter,nhl,dan friedkin,houston bulls,nhl to houston,toyota center,sports illustrated,sporting news

How I Learned to Stop Worrying about NHL Expansion and Love Minor League (and Junior) Hockey

Mission Control takes to the road for an early June trip to Kansas City! Matt saw Game 1 of the ECHL Finals to watch the KC Mavericks. I came away with some thoughts on empty arenas, the ongoing stadium struggles in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, and the arena bottlenecks keeping Space City out of the NHL. But after flying back for the inaugural Houston Bulls NAHL Draft Party, my perspective completely shifted: Yes, we want the NHL, but there's an incredible, affordable grassroots hockey culture building right in our own backyard that's also pretty great. (Plus, Matt has the perfect nomination for a Houston team's goal song).If the episode seems disjointed, so was my thought process while making it...00:00 - Intro04:20 - How's the sports fandom in KC?08:43 - How's the hockey fandom in KC?13:25 - Why (I think) we're not hearing a "Grand Plan" for NHL in Houston...19:13 - Thoughts on the Bulls Draft PartyWTF? Florida won that series? Wow, okay. Just goes to show that a big Game 1 win does not get you the whole thing.The Michel Petit Interview I mentioned: https://youtube.com/live/WvjcPIYZdNY?feature=share Houston Chronicle: Why Do So Many Artists Skip Houston? https://www.chron.com/culture/music/article/housotn-live-music-scene-issues-22301732.phpHouston Bulls: http://www.houstonbullsnahl.com ...and for you kids that have never heard a guitar: https://youtu.be/ruT5nmwhiic?si=FHmKbK5lkF_N5KltGet you some sexy Mission Control merch at: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - there's also an events calendar, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.

Bringing Hockey to Houston: Houston Bulls VP Devon Buckland Inside the New NAHL Franchise

The wait is officially over—hockey is charging back into the Houston area! In this special edition of Mission Control, we sit down with Devon Buckland, the Vice President of Business Operations for the brand-new Houston Bulls. Devon pulls back the curtain on the massive logistics of relocating a historic franchise from North Iowa down to the Lone Star State. We discuss the incredible surge in fan interest, with over 3,000 season ticket requests already flooding the front office for the new 2,000-capacity arena at the Deep South Ice & Sports Complex in Richmond, Texas. Devon breaks down what fans can expect from the notoriously fast and physical NAHL South Division, gives us an insider update on the building's progress ahead of its August grand opening, and teases major upcoming events. Whether you're a die-hard fan or completely new to the sport, get ready to find out how the Bulls are establishing a premier development pathway for young athletes eyeing NCAA Division 1 programs, and exactly what the gameday experience will look like for local fans. Are you still anxiously awaiting your season ticket email? The next chapter of Houston-area hockey is hitting the ice! 00:00 - Introduction 10:52 - When Does Deep South Ice Open? 20:10 - How to Sponsor the Bulls 35:00 - Where to Get your Bulls Merch 42:25 - Broadcast InfoSHOW LINKS:The Houston Bulls: http://www.houstonbullsnahl.com Partner with the Bulls: devon@houstonbullsnahl.com Billet the Bulls: billets@houstonbullsnahl.com Official Bulls Merch: http://officialmerch.shop/houston-bulls-hockey Deep South Ice & Sports Complex: https://www.deepsouthice.com/ NAHL: http://www.nahl.com NAHLtv: http://www.nahltv.com NAHL free audio broadcasts: http://www.mixlr.comThe Mission Control of Mission Control: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - you can get sexy merch there, too. Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/ Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.

2026 Hockey Day in Houston Reflection, and a talk with Terry Ruskowski

This episode of Mission Control is a massive Space City hockey roundup! We dive into the latest news, the roaring success of the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet, and the incredible 6,000-fan turnout at the 3rd annual Hockey Day in Houston at St. Arnold Brewing. The weekend proved once again that Houston is a Hockey TownThe episode caps with a brief on-site interview with Houston hockey royalty: Terry Ruskowski. The two-time WHA Avco Cup Champion, inaugural IHL Aeros coach, and the only player to ever captain four different pro franchises sits down to share his memories. Terry discusses the tight-knit culture of the WHA Aeros, the chaos of the NHL merger, drawing massive playoff crowds with the Laredo Bucks, and why he firmly believes Houston is more than ready for an NHL franchise. 00:00 - Brief News Bullet Points 08:43 - Thoughts on the Houston Hockey Hall of Fame Banquet & Hockey Day in Houston 18:06 - Favorite Parts of the Weekend (and what went horribly terribly wrong for me) 26:10 - Terry Ruskowski: Playing Days in Houston 35:00 - Terry Ruskowski: Coaching Career and if Laredo can do it...SHOW LINKS:Hockey Day in Houston: http://www.hockeydayinhouston.comThe Howe Foundation: http://www.howefoundation.comInter Scholastic Hockey League: http://www.ishl.orgWHOAH (Women's Hockey Outreach Association of Houston): http://whoahhtx.wixsite.com/homeChampions Club Texas: http://www.championsclubtexas.comBeer League Warriors Apparel: http://www.beerleaguewarriors.comoh hey, the website doesn't suck as much now: http://www.mchockeypodcast.com - you can get sexy merch there, too.Follow on X! https://x.com/MCHockeyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mchockeypodcast/Add on Discord - @MCHockeyPodcastThe NHL isn't in Houston - but the Hockey Fans Are!If you've been obsessing over every rumor about a potential NHL hockey franchise in Houston, you've found your people. Mission Control exists for the Houston hockey fans.