Right, let’s be honest none of us thought this would last ten years.
When we hit “record” on that very first Door 14 Hockey Podcast back in August 2015, it was just four mates (Marty, John, Dave, and Aaron) sitting around, talking hockey, and hoping someone anyone might listen.
Spoiler: people DID. And somehow, here we are, a decade later, still chewing the fat about the EIHL, the NHL, and whatever other hockey-adjacent nonsense comes into our heads.
So if you’re wondering how a scrappy little podcast from Belfast became a go-to for hockey fans across the UK (and the odd listener in far-flung places), grab a coffee or a pint and let’s go back to where it all began and look at. the10 year evolution of the Door 1 Hockey Podcast.
2015–2017: The Fresh Ice Years
Our first episode “Blue Harvest” captured the tone and told the world that the hosts were nothing but geeks. The episode went live prior to the season was kicking off, we were full of big opinions and bad mic technique.
We didn’t really have a “format” back then. We just talked about what we loved EIHL news, NHL updates, and whatever caught our eye. Somehow it clicked. People liked the banter, the laughs, and the fact that we didn’t take ourselves too seriously. What was once a monthly podcast became twice a month and remains to this day.
By the time we got to episodes like “Fear the Russians!” (2017), we’d hit our stride. The jokes were sharper, the hockey chat was better informed (well… sometimes), and we were starting to get a loyal following.
2018–2020: Banter Meets Big Topics
2018 was when we realised we could be both ridiculous and relevant. We had episodes like “Tossing Your Teddy” (about those legendary Teddy Bear Toss games) alongside deeper dives into the EIHL’s ups and downs.
We also learned the value of a good episode title like “A Little Less Bull” which had precisely nothing to do with cattle, but everything to do with hockey drama.
Then 2020 hit. Seasons were cut short, rinks went quiet, and “normal” hockey chat suddenly felt strange. But we kept going. We recorded from our homes, kept the laughs coming, and reminded ourselves and listeners that hockey would be back.
Episode highlight: “It’s Not All Doom And Gloom” proved we could still find silver linings when the world felt pretty grey.
We branched into other topics with a short-lived series we dubbed “The Isolation Station “ where we reviewed hockey-themed” movies….. it lasted two episodes.
2021–2023: Hitting the Century Mark
By the early 2020s, Door 14 wasn’t just our thing anymore it was our listeners’ thing too.
You stuck with us through delayed starts, playoff heartbreaks, and the occasional controversial opinion (no regrets).
In 2021 and 2022, we tackled everything from the Conti Cup to tribute episodes like “Remembering #47” for Adam Johnson moments that reminded us hockey is more than a sport; it’s a community.
And then came a big one: Episode 100 “Hooch Is Crazy” in April 2023. We hit triple digits, celebrated some big wins, and maybe had a little too much fun at the playoffs (listen to the disclaimer in that one).
2024–2025: A Decade on the Mic
The road to our 10-year anniversary has been packed. We’ve had “Bamboozled!”, “Future Prospects”, “SHOOT!!”, and a load of off-season specials to keep things ticking when the puck wasn’t even on the ice.
By Episode 137 (July 2025), we were starting into celebration mode looking back at where we started and realising that somehow, we’re still here. Still talking. Still arguing over EIHL penalties. Still laughing at our own bad jokes, and we planned how to celebrate our upcoming milestone in Episode 138
What’s Kept Us Going?
Honestly? Three things:
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The Chemistry – We’re mates first, podcasters second. The banter isn’t an act it’s just how we talk.
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The Irreverence – Our tagline says it: an “irrelevant look at hockey from around the globe.” We love the EIHL, we love the NHL, we’ll even give the KHL and ECHL a mention but we’re never going to be the buttoned-up kind of hockey show.
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You Lot – Whether you’ve listened from day one or found us last week, you’ve made it worth showing up to the mic every couple of weeks.
If You’re New to Door 14…
Start at the start if you want to hear how far we’ve come (and how much better our mics sound now). Or jump to the recent stuff for fresher takes “Believed!” is a good shout if you want to hear things go off the rails, our unbiased love for the Belfast Giants, and hear the passion we have for the game.
Join the Next Chapter
We’re heading into our second decade, and we’re not slowing down. Here’s how you can be part of it:
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Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Spotify whatever you use.
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Leave us a review tell the world what you love (or don’t… we can take it).
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Follow us on social (@Door14Hockey) and send us your questions, rants, or best hockey memes.
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Share the pod because nothing says friendship like forcing your mates to listen to our voices for an hour.
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Check out our YouTube for video versions of the podcasts and other original content and don’t forget to subscribe, like, and all that jazz.
From four mates with a mic to ten years and counting cheers for being part of the Door 14 story.
Now, let’s drop the puck on the next decade.
