NHL '94

In Part 1 of this multi-part interview, sit down with Tickenest, a true OG of the online competitive NHL '94 community.In this episode, we dive deep into retro gaming history and online evolution, covering:Early Gaming Roots: Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, playing Tecmo Super Bowl in the early '90s, and the dominance of "QB Eagles" (Randall Cunningham).Quake & Team Fortress: How playing Team Fortress (Sniper class) in the late '90s shaped Tickenest's competitive background and video archiving journey.The Dawn of Netplay: Using emulators like Nesticle and Kaillera to play online matches via dial-up and broadband as early as 2001.Joining the Community (2005): Finding the Finnish community at nhlgamer.com, connecting with kgman, and becoming forum member #23 on nhl94.com.Keyboard Play & Epic Comebacks: Transitioning from keyboard-only play, preserving classic matches, and breaking down his famous 8-7 comeback win over Icestorm NHL94.Follow and subscribe to the podcast so Part 2 automatically drops into your feed!00:00 - Introduction & Part 1 Overview01:36 - Growing Up in Philly & Early Genesis Days04:02 - Tecmo Super Bowl & The Power of QB Eagles05:02 - Quake, Team Fortress, and Early PC Competitive Play08:43 - Emulation Breakthroughs: Nesticle & Online Nintendo Play10:14 - Joining Tecmo Super Bowl & Kaillera Netplay Leagues12:22 - The Search for Early Online NHL '94 & Meeting the Fins15:35 - Discovering nhl94.com & Becoming Forum Member #2317:48 - kgman Arrives & Early Forum Competition22:11 - Playing NHL '94 Exclusively on Keyboard (Pros & Cons)24:37 - The Capitalism League & Early Super Nintendo Play26:02 - Early YouTube Video Capture & Preserving Quake Footage34:58 - The Legendary 8-7 Comeback Against Icestorm NHL9437:15 - Archiving 1,300+ Match Demos & Stepping Away in 200845:46 - Returning in 2020: Pandemic Comeback & CDL Highlights52:34 - Winning the SNES Classic A Championship & Defeating AJ_______________________________________________________Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NHL94Po

In Part 3 of our interview with Genesis competitive veteran EA (IAmFleury'sHipCheck), we cover retro league setups, controller builds, and community history: Stocks & Line-Rolling Leagues: How custom depth leagues challenge traditional strategies by forcing players onto 4th-line rotations. Start, Bench, Trade: EA takes on a new segment featuring low-tier names and star matchups. Player & Matchup Hot Takes: Overrated and underrated 16-bit players, plus peak tournament matchups like Edmonton vs. NY Rangers and Jersey vs. Hartford. Hardware & Controller Modding: Modding retro pads, three-button vs. six-button D-pads, and building mechanical switch controllers for input consistency. Community Evolution: Reflecting on forum history, in-person tournaments (King of '94, Ronic Rumble), and bringing retro hockey players together live. Follow and subscribe to get every retro gaming interview dropped directly to your feed! 00:00 - Introduction & Part 3 Overview00:51 - Stocks & Line-Rolling League Format02:49 - History of Custom ROM Leagues (GDL & Early Admin Sites)04:17 - King of '94 In-Person Experience & Community Energy05:21 - Online vs. In-Person Gameplay Dynamic07:23 - Inviting Veterans to Live Events (Ronic Rumble)09:28 - Start, Bench, Trade: Wood, Melby, Semenov12:13 - Start, Bench, Trade: Kamensky, Gretzky, Gilmour15:11 - Defenseman Skating Mechanics: Housley vs. Coffey16:25 - Overrated & Underrated 16-Bit Players20:32 - EA Special vs. Goalie Ramming Tactics22:50 - Favorite Opponents & 2v2 In-Person Dynamics24:00 - Controller Choice: 3-Button vs. 6-Button Pads25:25 - Custom Mechanical Controllers & 3D Printed Mods27:44 - 2-Second One-Timer Scenario: Kotsopoulos vs. Kudelski28:41 - Dream Tournament Matchups (Edmonton vs. Rangers / Jersey vs. Hartford)32:24 - Player Analysis: Jeremy Roenick vs. Pavel Bure35:44 - Forum Evolution: Moving from Online Friction to Live Friendship38:36 - Old-School Community Lore & Tournament Outreach_______________________________________________________Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NHL94Po

Welcome back to Part 2 of the sit-down interview with Genesis competitive veteran EA (IAmFleury'sHipCheck). In this episode, we dive into:Mastering the EA Special: Len breaks down his step-by-step method using low-tier teams (Ottawa & Anaheim) and the importance of player positioning vs. goalie matchups. One-Timer Mechanics: Why Len defaults to one-timers, and how Chaos' hitbox analysis explains their high success rate on Genesis. Classic ROM Leagues: Reflecting on franchise leagues, line strategies, and navigating home/road ice advantages with low-attribute lineups. Genesis vs. Super Nintendo (SNES): How learning SNES mechanics improves overall Genesis gameplay and deking skills. Retro Culture & Gaming: Physical media vs. digital downloads, retro game preservation, and classic GTA 1 PC LAN party memories. Follow and subscribe to the podcast so Part 3 automatically drops into your feed! 00:00 - Introduction & Part 2 Overview00:50 - Learning EA Specials with Low-Tier Teams02:06 - Skating Positions, Stick Angle, & Far-Corner Targeting04:12 - Teaching EA Specials & The "Blade Angle" Feel05:08 - One-Timers & Goalie Hitbox Mechanics06:24 - Skating Flow & Setting Up Passing Lanes07:20 - Pass Styles & The Disciple of New Jersey Killer09:26 - Low-Tier Matchups: Ottawa vs. Anaheim10:07 - Road Ice Disadvantage & Lineup Management13:32 - Defenseman Awareness & Positioning15:08 - Rush Defense & EA Special Risk Management17:24 - Controller Techniques & Speed Boost Boosters19:11 - Goal Crease Tactics & Goalie Collisions20:36 - Rating Analysis & Goalies (Berthiaume vs. Sidorkiewicz)22:47 - Leaving High-Speed Custom ROMs for Classic Gameplay25:19 - Franchise League Reflections & Winning a Championship28:38 - Super Nintendo (SNES) Gameplay & Skills Transferring to Genesis33:45 - Retro Collecting, Physical Media vs. Digital Patches38:29 - PC LAN Party Memories: Classic GTA 1 Multiplayer_______________________________________________________Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NHL94Po

In Part 1 of this 3-part series, sit down with EA (formerly known to classic netplay veterans as IAmFleury'sHipCheck), one of the most prominent figures in the Sega Genesis NHL '94 community. In this episode, we dive deep into the origins of competitive retro hockey, covering:The EA Special: The exact origin story, mechanics, counter-play, and forum backlash behind the iconic goal. Classic Gaming Roots: Keeping handwritten stats for 10-minute period draft leagues in the '90s. Growing Up in Chicago: Visiting old Chicago Stadium, meeting Blackhawks players, and winning a local 2012 tournament. King of '94 & Live Play: Transitioning from online netplay to live tournaments, signing box art, and how the King of Kong documentary inspired the tournament name. Retro Setup & Collecting: Framemeister upscaling, custom SCART cables, and full console collections. Follow and subscribe to the podcast so Part 2 and Part 3 automatically drop into your feed! 00:00 - Introduction & Episode Overview00:52 - Catching Up & Pre-Show Banter02:04 - Len’s Progression as an NHL '94 Player04:04 - EA’s Ice Awareness & Comparing Players to AJ05:04 - Evolving Gameplay: Reflecting on Raph vs. AJ06:22 - Netplay Origins: Entering the Community in 200507:20 - The Handwritten Stats & Draft Leagues of the 90s10:04 - Joining NHL94online.com & Discovering the Weight Bug12:37 - Growing Up Around Chicago Hockey Culture16:05 - Transitioning from Watching Sports to Gaming19:17 - Reliving the King of '94 Game Against AJ22:45 - The Live Tournament Performers & Standouts24:32 - The Early Days Before King of '9427:05 - Winning a Chicago Bar Tournament & The Signed Puck30:42 - The Tradition of Signing Retro NHL '94 Boxes33:45 - Retro Game Collecting & Framemeister SCART Setups38:22 - King of Kong, Billy Mitchell, & How King of '94 Got Its Name40:48 - Origin Story of the Famous "EA Special" Goal45:10 - Flame War Backlash & Defending Against the EA Special48:54 - Community Growth, Content Creation, & Wrap-Up_______________________________________________________Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NHL94Po

Sit back and relax, 16-bit hockey fans! In this massive 47-minute episode of the NHL '94 Podcast, host Len the Lengend sits down for a deep, unfiltered chat with a true cornerstone of the competitive retro sports scene: SOH (Scots on heroin)! SOH has been an active force on the community forums since the mid-2000s, witnessing the entire 20+ year evolution of competitive online netplay firsthand. In this definitive interview, we trace everything from the chaotic early days of online play to high-level tournament strategy, legendary 2v2 title runs, and the latest groundbreaking code discoveries shaking up the modding community today.What we tackle in this episode:• The Origin Story: SOH clears up what his handle actually stands for, his early gaming days on NHLPA '93, and why he’s considered the community's version of John Madden.• Banned in High School: A hilarious look back at 2005, when netplay became such a massive distraction that his school officially banned NHL '94 from the network.• The 2v2 Dynasties: SOH details his legendary 2v2 tag-team run alongside jesusplaysnhl94, winning back-to-back titles using the iconic Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens pairing.• Advanced Meta Evolution: Breaking down the discovery of the infamous weight bug, the strategic rise of "CB checking," and how manual goalies completely took over top-tier play.• The Art of the Pass Shot: SOH explains his unique training method of practicing on NHLPA '93 (where no automatic one-timers exist!) to perfect the manual angles required for lethal breakaway pass shots.• Goalie Attribute Myths Shattered: Our deep reaction to the incredible code analysis by community modder Chaos. We discuss bringing 93-style fighting into the '94 engine and break down the shocking discovery that specific goalie save attributes (like glove right/left) are actually completely meaningless in the original code!TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction & SOH Name Origin03:01 - Roster Nostalgia & Retro Hockey History (NHL 92, 93 vs 94)06:45 - Dual Console Athlete: Super Nintendo vs. Sega Genesis08:46 - Playstyle Evolution: CB Checking & Manual Goalies11:57 - Live Tournament Memories & Community Growth13:06 - 2vs2 Tournament Dominance with jesusplaysnhl9416:54 - Inside Chaos's Revolutionary "Fighting ROM" 22:24 - In-Person Tournament Lore & SOH's Signature Fist Pump25:12 - Breaking Down Top Teams & Favorite Roster Lines29:40 - The Early Days of NHL94Online Netplay34:15 - Advanced Tactics: Pass Shots & B-Button Checking39:05 - Community Legends, Rivalries, and Tournament Predictions43:50 - Deep Dive into Modding Code & Goalie Attribute Myths46:24 - Closing Thoughts & Looking Forward to the Next King of '94Want to jump into an active online league or find tournament details? • Hang out on the forums: https://forum.nhl94.com_______________________________________________________Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@NHL94Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠