I’ve been looking around for some good hockey simulator game and SHL was one of them because I used to play in 2004 when it was a is prime.
SHL is humorous ice hockey game where you choose tactics, formations, aggression levels, transfer in new players and win great prizes.

The game kind of lost is shine since they didn’t really improved it since there initial release and with all those FB game and html5 game it kind of seem outdated.

What the game is about ?

You’ve been hired has a coach for a Senior hockey team and you must train them, set-up there line, recruit new player and prepare the game plan for each game.

Your goal has to go to the top of the conference to be in the top team and win various tourney to show you team domination.

How your team rank ?

Your team is ranked based on a pyramid system

Each conference have 3 leagues these leagues are separated by section and division. When you’re in the top 4 you go up a division and if you in the bottom 4 you go down a division. They are some exception (like when switching league).

There a manager standing too, so you can see how you rank compare to other managers, your number of victory, goal and against who you won influence that standing.

How to play

First thing you should do when you start playing is to set up your line to have your best player for line 1 & 2 and to remove missing player from the line up. We will talk about the specific in another post.

combo box instead of dragging the player in the right line, very old school.

Once your line are ready update you need to update your tactic, there 3 tactic to update and keep in mind your opponent can see them, however you can change them in game with the advance tactic and the other players don’t have access to that.

Playing style
The playing style depend mostly on the ice quality, some say its depend on your team strength too.

The math is simple :
Fast Ice – european style
Normal ice – possession
surface water : Dump and chase
Slush:Dump and chase
Poor Ice: possession

Instruction
The other tactic is the the instruction, is kind of a rock paper scissor vs. the other team where attack beat defence, defence beat counter attack and counter attack beat attack.

Aggression
And the last not the least the aggression level depend on the referee, basically I use normal all game except when Stan Dupcomic is the referee, for him I use Psycho.

There other nice feature for the time that other hockey simulator have picked up, like training and making friendly game with your friend or challenging other player to a game.

SHL is a old school simulator it was nice when I played it but now it kind of old, the interface feel like 1999 and there not much to do except setting up your team and checking the other team game to prepare your tactic.

More on SHL :
–Beginner guide
–Training guide
–Cash guide

Webpage : seniorleaguehockey.com