Cycling the puck low

Setup

1. Full equipment for everyone, including a full cage and neck guard. G in full goalie gear in the right net.
2. In the offensive zone: RW with a puck on the half wall, C higher on the same wall, LW at the far side of the net, LD and RD at the points.
3. Two defenders: X1 on the strong-side wall, X2 in front of the net. Start them passive (sticks only), then go live.
4. Run the same pattern on the other wall with the next group.

How it runs

1. RW carries down the wall towards the corner and protects the puck from X1.
2. Instead of forcing a pass, RW leaves the puck on the wall for C, who has followed down behind, and curls up and away.
3. C picks it up low, protects it and bumps it back up the wall to RW, who has come back to the half wall.
4. RW walks off the wall into the slot and shoots once G is set, or moves it to RD at the point if the lane is closed.
5. LW works the net front for screens and rebounds, staying out of the crease.
6. Shifts of 30–40 seconds, then the next group. Water between turns.

Coaching points

• Protect the puck with your body between the defender and the puck: knees bent, wide base, puck on the far side.
• Leave the puck where your teammate is going, on the wall, not in the middle where X1 can step in.
• After you give it up, move: curl high and get open again. Standing still ends the cycle.
• Keep your head up on the wall: the cycle is a way to find a lane to the net, not the goal itself.
• Body contact here means leaning, holding your ground and protecting the puck. No body checking, nothing from behind, and no contact when a player is facing the boards.
• D at the points: hold the blue line and stay ready for a pass; you are the outlet when the low play is closed.

Common mistakes

• Throwing the puck blindly into the slot under pressure.
• Both forwards on the same piece of wall, so one defender covers two attackers.
• Cycling for its own sake and never attacking the net.
• The net-front player standing in the crease.