Tempers reached the boiling point within Northern Virginia’s ice skating community last February when Mitra Setayesh and Luiz Taifas, then owners of Ion International Training Center, announced plans to thaw all ice operations and transform the Leesburg facility into a performing arts/event center.
Skating Community Weighs In
There was a lot at stake. Opened in 2019, the massive double-rink complex off of Battlefield Parkway is one of the largest of its kind in the region and serves hundreds of local hockey and figure skaters who depend on the facilities for lessons, practice, and competitions. Athletes, parents, coaches, and community members rallied hard to protest and reverse the decision.
Their voices heard, operations and emotions have since “chilled” to normal status at the training center. On April 11, Ion’s investors, led by majority owner Joel Salamone, announced that they had assumed complete ownership and managerial oversight of the company.
Ion’s Programs Will Continue
Salamone told Northern Virginia Magazine that he can’t elaborate on details at this time. But he said in the future he will be happy to share more details about plans for Ion moving forward. “What I can tell you is that we will be continuing with all ice programs we’ve had in the past, specifically Learn to Skate, Open Skate, Stick and Shoot, Washington Little Caps, Loudoun Knights, house league, men’s leagues, figure skating, ice dancing, and hopefully curling,” he said.
Craig Desjarlais, director of Ion-based Tier II travel hockey club the Loudoun Knights, says he is thrilled with the developments: “The Northern Virginia region has a huge passion for hockey, large in part to the success of the Washington Capitals and the growing number of kids wanting to play the sport.”
Skating Sports in the News
Recent events have cast a national spotlight on Northern Virginia in terms of national ice sport fame. In March, Vienna figure skater Ilia Malinin earned a second back-to-back World championship gold medal, positioning himself as likely champion at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Corina 2026 in Italy this February. And on April 6, Washington Capitals left winger and team captain Alex Ovechkin fueled local skating enthusiasm even further by scoring his 895th NHL goal, passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
“There has been a huge push for adding additional ice sheets for many years now. And when Ion announced it was transitioning the facility to an events center and eliminating the ice, it would have negatively impacted so many hockey players and skaters who were already wishing they had access to more ice,” says Desjarlais.
“The Aprill 11 announcement that Ion would remain an ice rink indefinitely was a huge win for everyone who fought so hard on behalf of their kids,” Desjarlais says. “The Loudoun Knights and Washington Little Capitals now have a stable future with intentions to grow their clubs, incorporate a full girls’ program, and offer a wide variety of training sessions for kids of all skill levels.”
Feature image courtesy ION International Training Center
