Inside NHL '94 History: The EA Interview (Part 1) | EA Special, Tournament Evolution & Retro Gaming

Inside NHL '94 History: The EA Interview (Part 1) | EA Special, Tournament Evolution & Retro Gaming

Author: Len the Lengend August 23, 2026 Duration: 51:30

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 Overview

00:52 - Catching Up & Pre-Show Banter

02:04 - Len’s Progression as an NHL '94 Player

04:04 - EA’s Ice Awareness & Comparing Players to AJ

05:04 - Evolving Gameplay: Reflecting on Raph vs. AJ

06:22 - Netplay Origins: Entering the Community in 2005

07:20 - The Handwritten Stats & Draft Leagues of the 90s

10:04 - Joining NHL94online.com & Discovering the Weight Bug

12:37 - Growing Up Around Chicago Hockey Culture

16:05 - Transitioning from Watching Sports to Gaming

19:17 - Reliving the King of '94 Game Against AJ

22:45 - The Live Tournament Performers & Standouts

24:32 - The Early Days Before King of '94

27:05 - Winning a Chicago Bar Tournament & The Signed Puck

30:42 - The Tradition of Signing Retro NHL '94 Boxes

33:45 - Retro Game Collecting & Framemeister SCART Setups

38:22 - King of Kong, Billy Mitchell, & How King of '94 Got Its Name

40:48 - Origin Story of the Famous "EA Special" Goal

45:10 - Flame War Backlash & Defending Against the EA Special

48:54 - Community Growth, Content Creation, & Wrap-Up

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Hosted by Len the Lengend, NHL '94 is a deep and often nostalgic dive into a title many consider the pinnacle of sports gaming. This isn't just a quick retrospective; it's a full-season series of conversations that unpack why this particular game from 1993 continues to hold such a powerful grip on players decades later. Each episode feels like hanging out with friends who still argue about the merits of one-timers versus deking, debating the legendary rosters, and sharing stories about marathon tournaments that defined countless weekends. The podcast naturally explores the technical craftsmanship, the cultural moment it captured, and the sheer joy of its straightforward, brutal hockey action. You'll hear from fellow devotees, dissect gameplay mechanics that still feel satisfying today, and maybe even rediscover your own favourite team from that pixelated era. It's a celebration built on genuine passion, avoiding dry analysis for the kind of lively chat that happens between periods. As a proud part of the CBP Media Network, this podcast stands as the definitive audio arena for anyone who believes the digital ice of NHL '94 remains unsurpassed. Whether you're a lifelong fan or just curious about gaming history, Len guides these discussions with the enthusiasm of someone who truly believes he's talking about the greatest video game ever created.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 41

NHL '94
Podcast Episodes
Darrell, King of '94! The 10th Annual Tournament [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
Get ready, retro gamers! On this special episode of the NHL '94 Podcast, I'm sitting down with Darrell to talk about the 10th annual King of '94 tournament! 👑This year's event is happening in Toronto, Ontario on Septembe…
chaos, NHL '94 Fighting To Make A Return To The Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:02
The legendary NHL '94 had a major feature removed before launch - fighting. Due to pressure from the NHL, the brawls were taken out, but some of the code was left behind. On this episode of the NHL '94 Podcast, I, Len th…
Mat Poliquin, RetroArchAI for NHL '94 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:59
The NHL '94 Podcast welcomes Mat Poliquin (aka Mathieu or MatPoliquin on Discord) to talk some '94! I have a discussion with Mat to talk about RetroArchAI, a project he has been working on to improve the experience again…
scribe - Diving Deep Into RetroArch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:55
The NHL '94 Podcast welcomes scribe (aka scribe99) to talk some '94! scribe has a well rounded background in the 16-bit hockey realm. Not only is he a runner up to last year's King of '94 tournament (Sega), he is also ne…
Darrell aka Halifax - Upcoming King of '94 (2024 Edition) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
The NHL '94 Podcast welcomes back Darrell, aka Halifax, to the podcast. In this rip, we discuss about the upcoming King of '94 tournament (https://kingof94.ca/) that is taking place this year in Toronto on September 28 &…
Kidswasted - Making The Case For NHL '94 On The SNES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:21
Joining the NHL '94 Podcast for an interview is Kidswasted! Kidswasted came from humble beginnings, playing NHLPA '93 on the Sega Genesis and thoroughly enjoying it. After being gifted a SNES with NHL '94, it was game on…
Sal J Barry - Freelance Journalist That Loves NHL '94 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:49
Joining the NHL '94 Podcast for an interview is Sal J. Barry! Sal has been a freelance report for many years and written several pieces for The Hockey News since 2011. He is also the host of the Punk Junk Podcast. Sal ha…