Conor Palendat
Head Trainer - Player Development
For parents of young hockey players, the path to improvement can be crowded with options, not to mention confusing and costly! It’s easy for kids these days to get lost in the shuffle on their minor hockey teams, almost as if you’re checking boxes without seeing real progress. But when it comes to accelerating skill development and building game-changing confidence, one-on-one coaching stands above the rest.
At Granatier Sportsplex in Saskatoon, our private on-ice instruction sessions offer a focused, professional environment for players to sharpen their skills. Whether your child has a grasp on the basics or is aiming for elite-level competition, these personalized sessions provide the dedicated attention and expert feedback that leads to real results. But is private coaching the right fit for your young player? Let’s explore how a development coach can transform your athlete’s game, from perfecting the foundations of power skating to specialized goaltending training.
The Foundation: Power Skating
Ask any scout or coach, and they will tell you the same thing: skating is the single most important skill in hockey today. A player’s ability to accelerate, change direction, and maintain control at high speeds impacts every aspect of their game. In the formative years (ages 7-14), young players are developing their neuromuscular patterns, making it the ideal time to instill good habits and correct inefficient movements.
Our private sessions focus on developing complete, powerful skaters through:
Fundamental Edge Work & Balance: From basic weight transfer to advanced lean and control, we ensure players have a rock-solid base.
Proper Arm Use & Agility: We break down how upper body movement generates power, helping players become more agile and elusive.
Stride Correction: We identify and fix inefficient patterns, such as short, choppy strides or poor knee bend, to build longer, more powerful strides.
The goal is to provide a foundation of power skating and skill execution that players can confidently apply under pressure in a real game.
The Next Step: Shooting & Puck Skills
Once a player’s skating is solid, the next layer of elite performance is shooting accuracy, release speed, and puck control under pressure. In private sessions, we don’t just work on skating in isolation—we integrate puck skills so your player learns to think and execute at game speed.
Our shooting and puck skills development includes:
Shot Mechanics: Breaking down wrist shots, snap shots, and slap shots for maximum power without sacrificing accuracy. We focus on proper weight transfer, stick flex, and follow-through.
- Position Specific Skills: If you play forward or defence what skills you need to work on can change as you improve, the better you get the more specific aspects of your game make a difference.
Quick Release & Deception: Teaching players how to get the puck off their stick faster, change the angle of release, and keep goalies guessing.
Puck Protection & Stickhandling: Drills that simulate traffic, body contact, and tight spaces to improve puck control, edge work with the puck, and the ability to shield defenders.
Passing & Receiving: Developing crisp, accurate passes and soft, controlled receptions—skills that turn good players into high-IQ linemates.
Battle Drills: One-on-one and small-area competitions that combine skating, shooting, and puck control in realistic game scenarios.
By pairing power skating with dedicated shooting and puck skills work, your young athlete will become a more complete, dangerous player every time they step on the ice.
Specialized Training for Goaltenders
Every team knows that a great goalie can change a game; and if you’re a goalie parent you know your minor hockey coaches aren’t generally equipped to teach goalies. That’s why we offer specialized private coaching for goaltenders to help them dominate the crease. Our goalie sessions focus on the unique technical and tactical skills of the position:
Positional & Angle Mastery: Learning the precise positioning and angles to cut down shooting options.
Crease Movement & Rebound Control: Developing efficient lateral movement, post integration, and controlled rebound placement to limit second chances.
Puck Handling & Breakout Passing: Modern goaltenders need to be a third defenseman. We work on smart puck distribution to help start the breakout.
Mental Toughness & Game Awareness: Building the focus and resilience needed to make big saves and lead a team from the back end.
Whether you are a goalie parent looking for an edge or a young netminder just learning the position, our goaltending development program offers a supportive yet challenging environment to build confidence and skill.
What Makes Private On-Ice Coaching Different?
A private lesson is not just another skate. It is a premium training environment designed to isolate specific skills, receive immediate feedback, and maximize the value of every minute on the ice. Key benefits include:
Focused, One-on-One Attention: Unlike a team practice where the coach’s attention is divided, a private session is 100% dedicated to your player. Every drill and piece of feedback is tailored to their specific needs.
Targeted Repetition: Without the distractions of gameplay, players can repeat key movements until they become automatic. This builds the muscle memory needed to perform under pressure.
Real-Time Video Analysis: Today’s athletes are visual learners. We pair our sessions with instant video feedback, allowing players to see their stride, shooting mechanics, or goaltending positioning from multiple angles. This powerful tool creates immediate “aha” moments, making corrections clear and memorable.
Customizable to Any Goal: Whether you want to focus on explosive crossovers, a quicker release, or crease control, every session is built around your player’s unique development plan.
Meet Our Top Development Coaches
The true value of a private lesson comes from the coach running it. At Granatier Sportsplex, we are proud to have one of the most experienced and passionate coaching staffs in Saskatoon. Here are just a few of the experts who will be leading your player’s development:
Rosemary Armstrong (Power Skating Specialist): With an incredible 46 years of experience and NCCP Level 3 certification, Rosemary is a master of skating fundamentals. She has coached players who have gone on to the NHL and specializes in everything from edge work to proper arm usage.
- Conor Palendat (Head Player Development Coach): Conor grew up in Saskatoon playing hockey, which is where he first fell in love with the game. It was that passion that lead him to head over seas to Finland to pursue a degree in Sports Coaching & Management! Having completed his studies and gotten experience coaching in a foreign country and learning from the Finnish development model he returned home to Saskatchewan and moved to Wilcox, SK to coach at Notre Dame. After a couple a couple years there he moved back to Saskatoon where he continued to gain experience coaching with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Mens Hockey team as well as the Indigenous Sports Academy in both their inaugural & sophomore seasons!
Nolan Maier (Goalie Coach): Nolan was born and raised in Yorkton, SK, where he developed into one of the top goaltenders to come through the Western Hockey League. Following his junior career, Nolan went on to play professionally in the AHL and ECHL before committing to University of Saskatchewan. As a goalie, Nolan brings elite-level experience, professionalism, and a detailed understanding of the game to every session. He works with players of all ages and specializes in goaltending development through on-ice private sessions.
- + MORE (Check out our staff page to see who is available at this time)
Is Private On-Ice Coaching Right for Your Player?
If you are looking for a training environment that provides immediate, professional feedback and a plan tailored specifically to your player, private on-ice instruction is an excellent choice. It is ideal for athletes who:
Have specific weaknesses they need to address.
Want to accelerate their development beyond team practices & build elite skills.
Are goalies seeking specialized, position-specific training.
Are visual learners who benefit from video analysis.
Need a confidence boost and a safe place to learn new skills.
“Granatier Sportsplex helped me improve my game and move me forward on my hockey development path. Throughout my U18AAA experience, the elite, shooting-specific drills from Conor improved my release, accuracy, passing, and shooting confidence. Thanks to his high-level coaching and development guidance, I was better prepared to compete at the next level. I am now playing for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies! If you are a player looking to elevate your skills, improve your level of play, & give yourself a better chance to reach the next level, I cannot recommend Conor and the Granatier team highly enough!”
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Don’t let your player’s development be left to chance. Visit our website or contact us today to learn more about our private on-ice instruction and to book a session with one of our elite development coaches.
Pricing for private sessions are as follows:
Player Development
- 30 Minute Daytime = $157.50 (GST Included) | w/ Rosemary Armstrong = $173.25 (GST Included)
- 60 Minute Daytime = $236.25 (GST Included) | w/ Rosemary Armstrong = $283.50 (GST Included)
- 60 Minute Primetime = $288.75 (GST Included) | w/ Rosemary Armstrong = $336.00 (GST Included)
Goalie Development
- 30 Minute Daytime = $99.75 (GST Included)
- 60 Minute Daytime = $168.00 (GST Included)
- 60 Minute Primetime = $236.25 (GST Included)
Reach out today at info@gsplex.ca or click the button below to inquire!