Offensive Zone Play: Low Cycle

The Low Cycle diagrams the basic concept of cycling in the offensive zone. It is a good option for young players to watch because it shows a simple rotation in one direction. The idea is that players maintain a good triangle shape and rotate positions. Once puck possession is established, there should always be a player high in the slot, a player in front of the net, and the puck carrier protecting the puck up the wall.

The net we are attacking is on the right. The puck starts low on the wall with F1. The rotation moves counter-clockwise: the net-front forward drops to the corner to support the puck, the puck is played off the wall back toward the corner, the slot forward fills the net front, and the original puck carrier settles into the high slot. D1 and D2 hold the blue line as outlets.

Once the triangle is established, the cycle repeats: the puck carrier protects the puck up the wall; the player in front of the net goes to the corner to support; the puck carrier plays the puck off the wall back toward the corner; the player in the slot goes to the front of the net; the original puck carrier fills the high slot ready for a pass. The rotation continues until a scoring chance is achieved.