From Kent Lundahl

From my perspective forechecking/ cycling revolves around two primary factors 1. Physical ability to negate breakout and separate puck from defensive team. 2. Accurate passing ability in tight spaces. Therefore, this forechecking system combines the boxed assist rating and the intimidation rating.

Each forward will receive a forecheck rating which is dependent upon the boxed assist rating + intimidation rating. A forward with 0-9 receives a forecheck rating of 0, a forward with a 10-19 receives a forecheck rating of 1, and a forward with 20+ receives a forecheck rating of 2. Then the entire forward line will be added together to come up with a forecheck rating. In order to declare a line as a forechecking line, the three forwards must average a minimum of 1 forechecking rating or 3 total for the entire line. Forechecking lines can have up to 4 grades with the following breakdown.

FORECHECKING RATING CHART

Forecheck Rating	Line total 5 on 5	Line total 4 on 4	Ave. per forward
3	3	2	1
4	4	3	1.33/1.5
5	5	4	1.66/2
6	6	4	2/2

To declare a line a forechecking line a team must be in a 2 offense and 2 forecheck or higher. For a forechecking situation to occur, when the forechecking line is set in a 2/2, the forechecking line needs to have a shot on goal resulting in a goalie rating or rebound, which results in a defensive defenseman taking possession of the puck. When the Forechecking line is set in a 3/2 or 3/3, a defensive defenseman controlling the puck from the shooting column is also referred to in addition to the goalie rating and rebound. Next an Action Card is drawn but not referred to. Instead the following Forechecking Chart will be utilized. Find the forechecking line’s rating on the chart and the defensive defensemen’s pass rating. Draw a 20 Split Card or 20-sided dice roll.

FORECHECKING CHART

Defensemen’s passing rating	Forecheck 3	Forecheck 4	Forecheck 5	Forecheck 6
0	Lose puck outside shot only 1-10 Lose puck outside shot 11-12 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 13-14 Defensemen makes breakout pass 15-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-9 Lose puck outside shot 10-12 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 13-15 Defensemen makes breakout pass 16-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-8 Lose puck outside shot 9-12 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 13-16 Defensemen makes breakout pass 17-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-7 Lose puck outside shot 8-12 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 13-17 Defensemen makes breakout pass 18-20
J	Lose puck outside shot only 1-9 Lose puck outside shot 10-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-13 Defensemen makes breakout pass 14-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-8 Lose puck outside shot 9-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-14 Defensemen makes breakout pass 15-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-7 Lose puck outside shot 8-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-15 Defensemen makes breakout pass 16-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-6 Lose puck outside shot 7-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-16 Defensemen makes breakout pass 17-20
K	Lose puck outside shot only 1-10 Lose puck outside shot 11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12 Defensemen makes breakout pass 13-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-9 Lose puck outside shot 10-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-13 Defensemen makes breakout pass 14-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-8 Lose puck outside shot 9-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-14 Defensemen makes breakout pass 15-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-7 Lose puck outside shot 8-11 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 12-15 Defensemen makes breakout pass 16-20
L	Lose puck outside shot only 1-9 Lose puck outside shot 10 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 11 Defensemen makes breakout pass 12-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-8 Lose puck outside shot 9-10 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 11-12 Defensemen makes breakout pass 13-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-7 Lose puck outside shot 8-10 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 11-13 Defensemen makes breakout pass 14-20	Lose puck outside shot only 1-6 Lose puck outside shot 7-10 Lose puck inside shot Int-Opp 11-14 Defensemen makes breakout pass 15-20

To illustrate this I will use last year’s finals, with the Cane’s forechecking line being BrindAmour who is a 4-6=10 or a 1, O’Neill who is a 5-9=14 or a 1, and Kappanen who is a 6-7=13 or a 1. Line total is 1+1+1=3 forecheck rating. Therefore, Canes are in a 2/2 and BrindAmour rolls a 9 on the inside shot (Goalie rating), Hasek rolls a 5 (save either defenseman) and the Wings give the puck to Duchesne, who is a passing K. Refer to Forechecking Chart Passing K versus Forecheck 3. If result is 1-10, Duchesne loses puck and an outside shot only develops. Roll 1 six sided dice to determine Canes player 1-LW, 2-LD, 3-C, 4-RD, 5-RW, and 6-Any player (In 4 on 4 situations, a roll of 3 to the center results in a loose puck). If result is 11, Duchesne loses puck and outside shot develops. Same dice roll to determine Canes player and normal passing/penetration rules apply. If result is 12, Duchesne loses puck and inside shot intimidation opponent develops. Same dice roll to determine Canes player and normal intimidation rules apply. If result is 13-20, Duchesne attempts a breakout pass to one of the Wing’s forwards. Roll 1 six sided dice to determine forward: 1-2=LW, 3-4=C, and 5-6=RW (1-3=LW, 4-6=RW in 4 on 4 situations). Duchesne is a Passing K and is against a 2/2 Canes alignment. Refer to the breakout pass chart.

BREAKOUT PASS CHART

Defenseman’s passing rating vs. opponent’s offensive and defensive alignment	Offense 2 Defense (forecheckers) 2	Offense 3 Defense (forecheckers) 2	Offense 3 Defense (forecheckers) 3
Passing zero	Icing 1-12 Outside shot 13-20 Possible Breakaway	Icing 1-12 Outside shot 13-20 Possible Breakaway	Icing 1-12 Outside shot 13-19 Possible Breakaway 20
Passing J	Icing 1-10 Outside Shot 11-20 Possible Breakaway	Icing 1-10 Outside Shot 11-19 Possible Breakaway 20	Icing 1-10 Outside Shot 11-18 Possible Breakaway 19-20
Passing K	Icing 1-8 Outside shot 9-19 Possible Breakaway 20	Icing 1-8 Outside shot 9-18 Possible Breakaway 19-20	Icing 1-8 Outside shot 9-17 Possible Breakaway 18-20
Passing L	Icing 1-6 Outside shot 7-18 Possible Breakaway 19-20	Icing 1-6 Outside shot 7-17 Possible Breakaway 18-20	Icing 1-6 Outside shot 7-16 Possible Breakaway 17-20

Therefore, roll 20-sided dice or draw Split Card. If result is 1-8, Duchesne has iced the puck and the faceoff is in the Wing’s defensive zone. If result is 9-19, Duchesne has successfully made a breakout pass to the already determined forward who has an outside shot/pass/penetrate option against one of the defensemen, if LW has puck it would be against RD, if RW has puck it would be against LD, and if center has puck roll 1 six-sided dice (1-3 LD, 4-6 RD). Normal shot/pass/penetrate rules apply. If result is a 20, Duchesne has successfully made a breakout pass to the already determined forward who has a possible breakaway opportunity. Follow normal breakaway procedure and draw a Split Card. Disregard position and only refer to breakaway/penetration number. If breakaway is unsuccessful, give the puck to the proper defenseman (if LW has puck it would be against RD, if RW has puck it would be against LD, and if center has puck roll 1 six-sided dice (1-3 LD, 4-6 RD)).