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Swiss Engineered. Lab-Proven Glide. Turnkey Concept.

Glice Hockey Center - The Glice Hockey Center™. Ready to Open. Ready to Scale.

The complete elite training concept. Engineered with Swiss precision. You open it, players come.

Operating in world-class facilities worldwide.

See the Proof Open Your Glice Hockey Center
Proven Concept Turnkey Operation No Ice Plant Cost
HC Davos Nordic Hockey Center CCM Red Bull Harvard University Four Seasons Kempinski

Glice is a Swiss-engineered synthetic ice rink system — solid polymer panels that deliver a real skating experience using regular ice skates, with no refrigeration, no water, and no electricity. Installed in over 3,000 rinks across 100+ countries, with performance independently validated by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute.

Reviewed by Viktor Meier, Co-Founder & CEO, Glice AG · Last reviewed: June 2026

Why a Glice Hockey Center Accelerates Player Development

Complete hockey training facility

All-in-One Training Environment

Rink, dasher boards, interactive shooting targets, and skatemill - every training station a hockey center needs, integrated into one facility.

Unlimited training hours

Unlimited Hours, Zero Downtime

No arena schedules, no ice-time fees, no Zamboni breaks. Your hockey center runs 365 days a year - players train when they need to, not when a slot opens.

Flexible installation for hockey centers

Open Anywhere - No Refrigeration Needed

Warehouse, arena, sports complex, or standalone facility - a Glice Hockey Center installs on any flat surface without refrigeration infrastructure or permits.

Revenue-generating hockey center

Built as a Business

Charge for ice time, lessons, camps, and equipment rental. A Glice Hockey Center is a turnkey revenue model with low operating cost per session.

Plan your Hockey Center with our team →

Glice Hockey Center Training Areas

Nine standardized training stations - one integrated concept. Every Glice Hockey Center delivers the same world-class experience.

Glice Synthetic Ice Rink™

Fraunhofer-validated surface for full-speed scrimmages, power plays, breakout drills, and game-situation tactics. Any dimension, with dasher boards and markings.

Glice Skatemill™

On-ice skating treadmill for stride mechanics, speed training, and endurance conditioning. Skate more effectively and hone technique with integrated video analysis — the most efficient way to build explosive skating power.

Glice Interactive Shooting™

Interactive electronic shooting targets with programmable light-up sequences. Shoot targeted, sharp, and controlled in every situation, and measure precision and speed on every rep.

Glice Shooting Lane™

Dedicated shooting bays for wrist shots, slap shots, and one-timers. Full boards and backstop included - built for high-volume repetitions.

Glice Light Reaction Zone™

Light-based agility and reaction training system. Randomized visual cues build split-second decision-making, hand-eye coordination, and on-ice awareness.

Glice Stickhandling Station™

Synthetic ice surface for puck control drills, deking practice, and rapid hands training. Obstacle courses and skill challenges included.

Glice Goalie Crease Zone™

Dedicated goaltender training area with full crease, shooting lane, and lateral movement zone - angle work, butterfly slides, and reaction drills.

Glice Passing Wall™

Rebound passing system for one-touch drills, saucer passes, and give-and-go timing. Train passing accuracy and reception at game speed.

Glice Power Skating Lane™

Dedicated lane for crossovers, tight turns, edge work, and transition skating. Build the footspeed and agility that separates elite players.

Configure your Hockey Center → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Choose Your Layout.

Every Glice Hockey Center is designed around your space, your program, and your ambition. Here's the range of what's possible.

Glice Hockey Center Skills Lab - 3D rendering

Glice Hockey Center Skills Lab

Ideal for clubs and academies adding a dedicated development space alongside an existing program. Compact footprint, maximum training impact - eight integrated stations that fit into a warehouse bay, a vacant retail unit, or a corner of an existing facility.

Glice Hockey Center Training Hub

The full Glice Hockey Center experience, built for serious development work and commercial operation. All nine training areas including the Skatemill - enough space for simultaneous individual and group sessions, camps, and league play.

Glice Hockey Center Training Hub - 3D rendering
Glice Hockey Center Development Campus - 3D rendering

Glice Hockey Center Development Campus

Dual goalie zones, simultaneous group sessions, and the capacity to serve a city's worth of players. Built for elite academies, pro organizations, and high-volume commercial centers that want to become the regional destination for hockey development.

Every center is customised to your building and program.

Start Your Layout →
Lucas Bachofner
After you get used to it… you can do tight turns, stops, and starts.
★★★★★
Lucas Bachofner, HC Davos U20
Daniel Thurner
Once we tried it, we fell in love with Glice.
★★★★★
Daniel Thurner, Co-Founder
Magnus Nygren
I have never seen anything like this; it is incredible.
★★★★★
Magnus Nygren, Defender, HC Davos
Kristian Ceniga
It's very quick in the curves. You don't lose any speed.
★★★★★
Kristian Ceniga, Skill Drill Academy Switzerland
Talk to a rink specialist → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Skating. Without Ice.

Synthetic ice is a system of engineered polymer panels that lets you skate with normal ice skates - no refrigeration, no water, no freezing. Panels install on any flat surface and connect to form a complete skating rink. Operable anywhere, in any climate.

Solid polymer, not ice.Synthetic ice is a dry, solid surface made from engineered polymer panels - no water, no refrigeration, no electricity required. Panels are ambient temperature and never melt.
Standard skates, no special gear.You skate with the same ice skates you'd use on a refrigerated rink. No modifications needed.
Independently tested performance.Fraunhofer Institute testing confirmed that Glice synthetic ice achieves glide performance comparable to real-ice skating speeds.
Self-improving surface.Sintered panels release fresh lubricant as blades create microscopic scratches - the more you skate, the better it glides.
Tongue-and-groove connection.Panels interlock like parquet flooring - precision-machined joints create a seamless surface. Seams are 100% flush and undetectable underfoot.
Install anywhere, no permits required.Panels lay directly on concrete, asphalt, sport flooring, or event flooring. No anchoring, no drilling, no construction permits. Premium panels last 10+ years per side and are reversible.
Easy to manage with Rink Manager Certification.Glice provides Rink Manager Certification to help your team operate and maintain the rink, supporting long-term surface quality and a world-class skating experience.
Glice synthetic ice rink system - modular polymer panels with dasher boards on a concrete base

Identical Glide. Zero Infrastructure.

Independent Fraunhofer testing confirms a friction coefficient matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speeds.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

Friction comparison chart: Glice vs refrigerated ice - Fraunhofer validated

Glice vs Refrigerated Ice at a Glance

Refrigerated Ice Glice
Energy consumption ~1,050,000 kWh/year No refrigeration kWh
Water consumption ~126,000 litres/year No resurfacing water
CO₂ emissions ~519 tonnes/year Lower operating CO2
Installation Days or weeks, permits, chiller space needed Hours, any flat surface
Temperature dependency Degrades above 10°C/50°F Performs at any temperature
Surface consistency Zamboni downtime ~20 min between sessions Consistent all day, no downtime
Maintenance staff Refrigeration engineers required Any staff, trained in 45 min
Lifespan Continuous repair, maintenance and replacement costs 10+ years per side, reversible
Injury risk Hard, unforgiving surface Shock-absorbing, fewer injuries
Noise Compressor and generator noise Silent - no generator noise
Cooling agents Refrigerants - potent greenhouse gases No refrigerant plant
Infrastructure requirements Chiller plant, pumps, HVAC, piping, electrical upgrades No refrigeration infrastructure
Technical back-of-house space ~90 m² service & plant area 0 m²
Ice waste handling space ~9 m² melt pit & drainage area 0 m²
Air conditioning & dehumidification (indoor) Significant additional energy and equipment Not required

Ice Quality Throughout the Day

Glice maintains 100% surface quality all day. Refrigerated ice degrades between Zamboni cycles.

Glice (synthetic) Refrigerated ice Zamboni resurfacing
Resurfaced every ~90 min · ~20 min closure per session · Total daily downtime: ~180 min (3 hours)

Figures based on a standard Olympic-size rink (60 × 30 m). Actual values may vary depending on rink size, climate, and operating conditions.

Refrigerated Ice vs Glice — Resource & Space Calculator

m
m
weeks
Refrigerated Ice
Glice

Operational Cost Projection

Refrigerated Ice
Glice

Electricity rate: 1.6 kWh/m²/day · Water: 70 L/m² (operating period) · CO₂: 0.494 kg/kWh (IEA global average)

These calculations are based on international averages and are intended for indicative purposes only. Actual energy consumption, water usage, CO₂ emissions, and infrastructure requirements may vary depending on rink size, climate, operating conditions, and local utility rates. Contact Glice for a tailored project assessment.

Not All Synthetic Ice Is Equal.

Fraunhofer lab tests confirm Glice leads every performance metric in the category.

52%
Lower friction than the next best competitor
45%
Less blade sinking than the next best competitor - no plough resistance
6%
Less abrasion - lowest shavings output in the industry

Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM, Freiburg. Zwischenbericht V1184-2025.

Skate blade fixed in a tribometer during friction testing at the Fraunhofer Institute

Independently tested at the Fraunhofer Institute

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is Europe's largest applied research institute with 76 institutes and over 32,000 researchers. Testing was conducted at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Freiburg - specialists in tribology, surface science, and material characterisation.

Test Setup

  • › Skate blade fixed in a tribometer
  • › Synthetic ice panels act as counterbodies, moving beneath the blade
  • › Friction measured directly on the blade
  • › Normal force applied by pulling the blade head downward
  • › Blade cleaned with acetone & isopropanol before and after each test, installed in the same position

Test Parameters

Frequency
10 Hz
Amplitude
12 mm
Normal force
300 N
Sample rate
100,000 Hz
Recording interval
1 s
Duration
200 cycles (20 s)
Friction comparison: Glice vs competitor synthetic ice brands - 52% lower friction

52% Lower Friction

In the test, a hockey skate blade moved back and forth over a sample of synthetic ice, while a tribometer recorded how much friction each surface creates.

The coefficient of friction determines the resistance a skate blade encounters when gliding. A lower coefficient means the blade glides more effortlessly, faster, and for longer distances. It also reduces blade wear, keeping edges sharper and extending the time between resharpening.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

45% Less Blade Penetration

Blade penetration (indentation) is a key factor in synthetic ice performance. The deeper the blade sinks, the more material it pushes forward - like an icebreaker through ice. This increases skating effort and reduces glide speed.

Indentation depth was measured using a white light optical profilometer. Glice shows 45% less blade sinking than the next best competitor.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, Zwischenbericht V1184-2025

Blade penetration depth: Glice shows 45% less blade sinking than competitors
Abrasion test: Glice produces 6% less material wear than the next best competitor

6% Less Abrasion

Using the standard DIN ISO 4649 method, samples from the top synthetic ice brands were tested to see how quickly they wear down. Each sample is rubbed against sandpaper under controlled conditions, and the material lost is measured.

The less material that wears off, the fewer shavings are created during skating - keeping the surface cleaner, improving glide, and reducing maintenance.

Source: Fraunhofer IWM, DIN ISO 4649 standardized abrasion test

Figures based on a standard Olympic-size rink (60 × 30 m). Actual values may vary depending on rink size, climate, and operating conditions.

Independent lab report published by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM.

View the official Fraunhofer press release

The Skate Effort Equation

Friction Sliding resistance
at the blade
×
Indentation Ploughing resistance
as the blade sinks
=
Skate effort What the skater feels
push by push

Skate Effort Matrix

Less Skate Effort. Fuller Rinks.

Move your cursor across the chart. Watch the business outcomes on the right shift as skate effort changes.

Low Smooth Moderate Heavy High Low Mild Medium High Very high Max Relative glide effort Surface response Fresh ice 30 min 60 min 90 min Competitor 1 Competitor 2 Competitor 3 Competitor 4 Glice Sources: Fraunhofer IWM synthetic-surface testing and rink-tribology literature; chart normalized to a relative scale. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR BUSINESS Effortless skating Happy skaters Magnet effect Good press & social media Low sharpening cost Hover the chart to see how skate effort drives the business

A Bad Skating Experience Costs More Than You Think.

Low-quality synthetic ice destroys what you built. Glice protects it.

When skaters experience slow, sticky, shavings-covered ice - they leave early. They don't come back. They don't recommend your venue.

Low glide on cheap synthetic iceLow glideSkaters leave early. Lost forever.
Blade dulling from low-quality synthetic iceBlade dullingConstant sharpening. No grip.
Excess shavings on cheap synthetic iceExcess shavingsClothing complaints. Skaters don't return.
Poor aesthetics of cheap synthetic ice rinkPoor aestheticsCheap look. Weak venue impression.

Glice is engineered to protect the experience you invested in - from the first skater to the last.

Talk with a rink specialist →

Your Success Goes Beyond the Surface.

How Glice makes your project successful beyond surface technology.

Glice premium dasher board system

Premium Dasher Boards

A premium dasher board system designed to elevate any venue.

Glice Rink Manager Certification

Rink Manager Certification

A structured certification program helps your team run a world-class operation.

Glice global team in 100+ countries

Global Team in 100+ Countries

A passionate team - we're where you are.

Independent lab report published by the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM.

View the official Fraunhofer press release

Quality Players Can Feel.

Compared to conventional synthetic ice, the difference is immediate.
Every detail is engineered for serious training.

Effortless Glide

52% lower friction than the next-best synthetic ice (Fraunhofer-validated). Players get a realistic skating feel that translates directly to game ice.

Skate blade staying sharp on Glice synthetic ice

Blades Stay Sharp

45% less blade indentation means skates stay sharper through longer sessions - less time at the sharpener, more time on the ice.

Clean professional Glice rink surface

Clean Surface

6% less abrasion than the next-best competitor. Minimal shavings, much less shavings sticking to clothes or scattered around the rink - a surface worthy of a pro facility.

Glice is engineered to protect the training experience you invested in - from the first session to the thousandth.

Open a Glice Hockey Center players trust →
Glice premium dasher board system

Premium Aesthetics

Designed for Elite Training Centres

A premium dasher board system built not just for functionality, but with a premium finish that makes your centre look as serious as the players who train in it.

  • ✓ Lightweight to handle
  • ✓ Adjustable to uneven ground

Recognised on the World Stage.

Selected by leading sports organisations to showcase the future of ice sports.

NHL Sport Innovation Conference 2026 featuring Glice synthetic ice

Presented by the NHL

Selected as a breakthrough in hockey technology at the 2026 Sport Innovation Conference.

ISU World Congress 2026 featuring Glice synthetic ice demonstration

Chosen by the ISU

Selected to demonstrate the future of figure skating at the 2026 ISU World Congress.

Winter Olympics 2026 House of Switzerland featuring Glice synthetic curling

Featured at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Selected by the House of Switzerland to showcase synthetic curling on the world stage.

CCM Hockey Lab selects Glice synthetic ice in blind skating test

Selected by CCM

Chosen in a blind skating test as the synthetic ice selected by CCM for the world's largest Hockey Lab.

Large-format synthetic ice rink installation in Mexico

Large-Format Artificial Ice Rink

Glice delivered a 4,000 m² / 43,056 sq ft public rink project in Mexico.

Want the same technology trusted by top organisations? Let's talk about your project →

Proven at Hockey Training Centers Worldwide.

Facilities and training centers use Glice to add serious on-skate development space.

Plan a hockey center project ->

Free Planning Guide

Get The Complete Rink Planner.

Everything you need to evaluate, plan, and launch a synthetic ice rink - in one document.

  • Site requirements and Planning Checklist
  • Six financing paths, including grants and sponsorship
  • How to test, compare, and choose any provider

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Glice synthetic ice hockey rink
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Glice

Planning Guide

The Complete
Rink Planner

PDF

Costs, layouts, revenue projections & everything you need to launch your synthetic ice rink.

glicerink.com

Core Components of a Hockey Training Center

Every system is Swiss-engineered and built to perform at the highest level.

Not sure which solution fits? We'll help you choose → Get The Complete Rink Planner
Trees for the Future

Sustainability Built In

A Rink That Plants a Forest

170,000+

Trees Planted and Counting

For every panel we produce, a tree gets planted. Through Skate for the Planet, Glice's reforestation program, 170,000+ trees have been contributed to verified reforestation - currently in partnership with Trees for the Future, a UN World Restoration Flagship. Every Glice Hockey Center comes with a verified ESG line item for sustainability reporting from day one.

One Center. One Partner.

Build it once. Build it right.

A hockey center is a long commitment. Here's why serious programs choose Glice as the partner behind theirs.

1

Ice that performs.

Every great training center starts with the right surface. Glice's synthetic ice is independently lab-proven to match real-ice friction at training speed - delivering the consistent, high-quality skating experience elite development demands, year-round.

Fraunhofer Institute testing equipment measuring ice surface friction
Glice engineers reviewing test data in the lab

2

Swiss-engineered, end-to-end.

Glice is built by Swiss engineers, hockey players, and Swiss carpenters working as one team. Every detail - from the ice formulation to the dasher boards to the training stations - is engineered, tested, and refined in-house with Swiss precision.

3

A center built around your space.

Every Glice Hockey Center is fully customised - designed around your building, your program, and your operating model. We help you make the most of your facility while protecting efficiency, scalability, and long-term return on investment.

Glice Hockey Center architectural render showing customised layout
Players training at a Glice Hockey Center

4

Training environments built for development.

Our centers are designed to replicate real game situations or to focus deliberately on specific skills - skating technique, puck control, shooting precision, reaction speed. Every element is built to maximise development per session.

5

Progress made visible.

Glice training environments are designed around the performance metrics that matter - making athlete progress measurable, motivation tangible, and long-term improvement clear to players, coaches, and parents alike.

Players running SpeedTrack drills at Glice Hockey Center
Talk to our team about your center →

As Seen In

The New York Times BBC Forbes Entrepreneur Bloomberg CNN FOX NEWS

From First Call to Grand Opening. Fully Guided.

A clear, structured process from first conversation to a fully operational Glice Hockey Center.

1

Consultation

Define your training goals, evaluate the space, and configure rink size, stations, and equipment.

2

Design & Business Plan

Facility layout, equipment selection, budget planning, revenue modelling, and go-to-market strategy.

3

Production

Rink, boards, shooting targets, skatemill - manufactured to specification. 4–12 weeks.

4

Installation

Glice team on-site to install and integrate all training stations.

5

Grand Opening & Ongoing Support

Staff certification, operational playbook, marketing launch support, and continuous partnership.

Start your Glice Hockey Center journey → Get The Complete Rink Planner

Hockey Center - Frequently Asked Questions

The Glice Hockey Center is a standardized, turnkey hockey training concept - rink, dasher boards, shooting targets, skatemill, cleaning system, and blade protection flooring - delivered as one integrated system. Every Glice Hockey Center follows the same proven blueprint, so operators benefit from a concept that's already working in elite facilities worldwide.
Yes. Independent Fraunhofer testing confirms a friction coefficient matching freshly resurfaced real ice at training speeds - the conditions where most skill development happens. Edge work, stops, crossovers, and shooting drills all transfer directly to real ice performance.
Interactive shooting targets are electronic goal targets that light up in different patterns and sequences, challenging players to improve accuracy, reaction time, and shot placement. They integrate directly into your hockey center and support multiple training programmes for all skill levels.
The skatemill is a skating treadmill that allows players to work on stride mechanics, power, and endurance in a controlled setting. It provides continuous skating without the need for a full rink - ideal for focused skating development and conditioning sessions.
A Glice Hockey Center can be configured to fit your available space - from compact shooting and skills stations starting at 100 m² to full-size training rinks of 800 m² or more. Our team designs the optimal layout based on your facility dimensions and training goals.
Absolutely. Glice Hockey Center operators charge for ice time, private lessons, group training, camps, birthday parties, and equipment rental. With low operating costs per session, the business model is proven and highly attractive. Our team supports you with revenue projections, pricing strategy, and a full business plan.
A complete Hockey Center - rink, boards, shooting targets, and skatemill - typically installs in 1–3 days depending on size and configuration. No construction, no refrigeration infrastructure, no special permits typically required.
Daily cleaning of the skating surface with a Glice cleaning machine and regular skate sharpening. The shooting targets and skatemill require minimal maintenance. No refrigeration technicians or specialized staff needed - your team is trained and certified during installation.
Arena ice time is expensive, limited, and scheduled around other users. A Glice Hockey Center gives you your own facility with unlimited, on-demand access - no ice-time fees, no slot competition, no seasonal shutdowns. You control the schedule, the pricing, and the player experience. Over time, the cost per training hour is dramatically lower than leased arena time.
Yes - Glice synthetic ice performs at any temperature, indoors or outdoors. Glice Hockey Centers are already operating from Scandinavia to the Middle East. No refrigeration means no climate dependency - the concept works in any market, any location.
Glice increases rink utilization by up to 19% compared to refrigerated ice, as no downtime is required for resurfacing or clearing the rink.
A Glice Hockey Center can combine synthetic ice with on-ice and off-ice hockey development tools such as Skatemill work, shooting lanes, reaction-light drills, stickhandling stations, goalie zones, passing walls, sprint lanes, cognitive speed drills, and other training stations in one facility.
Get All Answers in The Rink Planner Still have questions? Talk to a rink expert →
Working with Glice was different from any supplier relationship we had. They guided us through every step and made a complex project feel completely manageable.
★★★★★
Senior Venue Manager, International Hospitality Group

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Key facts

  • Fraunhofer IWM measured Glice friction matching freshly resurfaced real ice at lower speed
  • 52% less friction and 45% less blade indentation than the next-best synthetic ice competitor
  • Operating in 100+ countries with 3,000+ installations
  • Swiss-engineered panels manufactured in Germany under exclusivity

Last updated: June 2026