Is The Skating Treadmill Right For Your Young Hockey Player?

Ty Banks

Operations Manager

For parents of young hockey players, the off-ice training options can seem overwhelming. From dryland workouts to shooting lanes and agility drills, there are countless ways to improve on ice performance, But when it comes to developing strong, efficient skating mechanics, one tool stands out above the rest: the skating treadmill.

At Granatier Sportsplex in Saskatoon, our skating treadmill has become a cornerstone of our player development system. Whether your child is just starting out or preparing for elite-level competition, treadmill training can offer a unique and powerful advantage. But is it the right fit for your young player?

Let’s dive into what makes the skating treadmill such a valuable training tool, especially for stride correction, real-time video analysis, and overall performance development.

The Importance of Skating Mechanics

Ask any coach or scout and they’ll tell you the same thing: skating is the foundation of hockey. A player’s ability to accelerate, change direction, and maintain control at high speeds impacts every aspect of their game. While natural athleticism can go a long way, proper skating mechanics are critical for long-term success.

Young players, especially those in their formative years (ages 7-14), are still developing their neuromuscular patterns. This is the ideal window to instill good habits and correct inefficient movements. Poor skating technique developed early on can become harder to fix later, and often leads to slower development, reduced confidence, and even injury.

That’s where the skating treadmill comes in.

What Makes The Skating Treadmill Different?

The skating treadmill is not a gimmick or shortcut. It’s a carefully designed training environment that allows players to isolate, refine, and repeat the most important components of their skating stride.

Key features include:

Controlled speed and incline: Coaches can adjust settings to challenge stride length, strength, and endurance.
Stable environment: Unlike on-ice training where players must react to gameplay or other skaters, the treadmill offers a consistent, focused surface for repetition.
Instant feedback: Combined with video analysis, players can immediately see and feel what needs improvement.

The treadmill isn’t meant to replace ice time; it’s meant to amplify its value. By focusing on technique in a controlled space, players can build the muscle memory and confidence they need to apply these improvements during real gameplay.

The Power of Stride Correction

One of the most powerful aspects of treadmill training is its ability to identify and correct inefficient or flawed skating patterns.

Common issues we see in young players include:

Short, choppy strides
Poor knee bend and lack of power generation
Over-reliance on upper body movement
Uneven or unbalanced strides

On the treadmill, these problems become more visible. With the help of trained instructors, players can work through drills and corrections that target specific elements of their stride. Because the treadmill forces repetition, the corrections become engrained faster and more effectively than if they were addressed only during regular on-ice practices.

Over time, these improvements add up: longer, more powerful strides, better edge control, and more efficient energy use. The result is a player who not only skates faster but does so with less effort and greater confidence.

Real Time Video Analysis: Designed For Visual Learners

Today’s young athletes are visual learners. They’re used to watching video clips, highlight reels, and replays. So why not apply that to their own development?

At Granatier Sportsplex, we pair every treadmill session with instant video feedback. Using high-quality cameras and playback monitors, athletes can see their stride in real time, from multiple angles.

This creates a powerful coaching moment. When a player sees how their ankle bends (or doesn’t), how much power they generate with each push, or how their posture changes at different speeds, the lesson becomes immediate and clear. They can make the connection between what they feel and what they see,and then correct it on the spot.

Coaches can pause, slow down, or highlight specific portions of a stride to help the athlete truly understand what’s working and what needs adjustment. It’s a perfect fit for the modern athlete who thrives on fast feedback and hands-on learning.

Who Benefits Most From The Skating Treadmill?

While almost any player can benefit from treadmill sessions, they are particularly impactful for:

Beginners (Ages 6-10): Learning proper stride mechanics early avoids future bad habits.
Developing players (Ages 11-14): This is the prime window to fine-tune stride efficiency, power, and control.
Goal-focused athletes (Ages 15+): Those pushing for AAA, junior, or prep hockey will gain a performance edge.
Players returning from injury: The treadmill offers a safe, controlled space to re-establish skating form without game pressure.

Even experienced skaters are often surprised at how much room there is for improvement once their stride is broken down in detail.

Beyond The Stride: Building Athletic Confidence

One overlooked benefit of treadmill training is the confidence it builds in young athletes. When a player understands how their body moves and sees measurable improvement in stride speed, length, or balance, they develop a deeper belief in their own abilities.

That confidence carries over to practices, games, and tryouts. Skating becomes less of a mental hurdle and more of a strength. And for young athletes, that mindset shift can be just as important as any technical gain.

Integrating Treadmill Training With Full Development

At Granatier Sportsplex, we believe in a full-spectrum approach to development. That means integrating the treadmill into a broader system that includes:

On-ice skill development
Off-ice shooting sessions
Dryland training focused on speed, mobility, and recovery
Game-situation drills and small-area play

The treadmill is one piece of the puzzle — a highly effective one — that supports everything else a player is doing. When combined with our experienced coaches, video tools, and athlete-first programming, it helps create real, lasting results.

Is The Treadmill Right For Your Player?

If your young hockey player:

Struggles with stride length, balance, or power
Wants to get faster, smoother, and more confident
Responds well to visual feedback and hands-on coaching
Is committed to improving their overall game

…then yes, the skating treadmill may be exactly what they need.

We welcome players of all levels to try it out and see the difference for themselves. Our staff will work with you to assess your athlete’s needs and recommend the right training schedule based on their goals and experience level.

“For me, the clear advantage of the treadmill is having the coach right beside the player for the entire training repetition. The coach can provide instant feedback, mid-stride, in a way that's difficult to do on the ice. Recording and reviewing video is easy, and the player can test out corrections very efficiently in a high rep per minute type of situation. The treadmill takes a few sessions to get used to, but the improvements start to show up on the ice fairly quickly after that. It doesn't replace the need for on-ice skating development, but it's a great tool to use in tandem and the bang for buck is pretty good.”

Danton Danielson | Saskatoon Hockey Parent

Ready To Give The Treadmill A Try?

Located in Saskatoon, Granatier Sportsplex is proud to offer one of the most complete and forward-thinking development environments in Saskatchewan. Our skating treadmill is just one of many tools we use to help players unlock their potential and fall in love with the game at every stage.

Ready to see what stride correction, real-time video feedback, and elite coaching can do for your athlete? Discover why the skating treadmill at Granatier Sportsplex in Saskatoon is a game-changing tool for developing confident, explosive skaters.

Book a trial session or reach out today at info@gsplex.ca.

Ty Banks