Owner Mitra Setayesh has yet to respond to multiple inquiries for comment as the Washington Little Caps and Loudoun Knights will soon be left without a home rink.
Youth hockey in Loudoun County, Virginia has — almost quite literally — been skating on thin ice. And now, it appears that the ice is finally breaking, as Ion International Training Center in Leesburg delivered another devastating blow to hockey families in the Northern Virginia community on Friday.
After having promised families they are committed to preserving the ice rinks at Ion, owner Mitra Setayesh issued a press release to members of the Ion community and the media on Friday, announcing plans to go forward into turning the facility into a performing arts center and convention and event center.
This would take away both sheets of ice, leaving the Loudoun Knights and Washington Little Caps without a home.
The announcement comes over a week after Setayesh filed a zoning permit to the Town of Leesburg for a redesign of the facility, which has not even been approved yet by the town.
All the while, Setayesh has yet to respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the rink and its future but said in her press release that "it is disheartening to see misinformation and negativity" surrounding the facility.
"Over the past few months, there have been rumors and speculation about what’s next for Ion. While we understand that change can be unsettling, it is disheartening to see misinformation and negativity take root in a space where our only goal has been to do what is best for our community," Setayesh wrote. "We want to be clear—we have always had the ability to make our own decisions about the future of this space. However, rather than making a quick choice, we took the time to carefully evaluate every option, ensuring that whatever decision we made would be based on what will bring the greatest benefit to Loudoun, Ion and the incredible community we serve."
Though the permit was filed on Jan. 30, architects for the redesign appear to have been engaged with Setayesh and the facility for months.
"Ownership (had) also continued to state their commitment to our families as they have reached out to her for meetings and via email to plead with her to keep the facility as an ice rink," Carrie Drake, who volunteers for the Loudoun Knights, said. "Rather than prioritizing discussions with potential buyers who seek to preserve Ion as an ice rink, she is actively taking steps that could eliminate a vital resource for our athletes. "
Ion was founded in 2019 by Setayesh and her husband, Luiz Taifas, who said he developed the rink to provide a high-level ice skating, hockey and figure skating training facility having been a competitive figure skater himself. Taifas claims to have been an Olympic figure skater, but he never participated in any of the Olympic Games.
Over the last few years, though, the facility has gone downhill, with conditions worsening and ownership failing to properly maintain the rinks, locker rooms or bathrooms. The original general manager of the rink, Travis Huff, left amid toxic workplace conditions, which have only gotten worse, according to his wife and Knights coach, Jessica Huff.
Bathroom stalls are ripped out of the walls while toilets are leaking, trash lays in the stands of the 5,500-seat arena and the locker rooms are left in such disarray that several teams refuse to check out keys and change outside.
There's also no longer a regular cleaning crew, per Drake, and per Huff, there has not been a professional company maintaining the ice for years, leading to hazardous conditions on the rinks. The padding around the rink is also peeling off, and there would be broken glass doors and broken netting as well.
All the while, families have paid significant dues to cover costs for their children to play hockey, but still, referees and coaches have gone unpaid. The adult league folded with the rink unable to maintain it.
Away from sports, the facility has promised to host concerts, including a Ludacris show that was moved twice, but those events never happened, and a number of customers have said they have not been refunded.
With the rink not being maintained and coaches not being paid, it is unclear what the money is going toward. Setayesh would not respond to inquiries regarding these concerns, or regarding where the funding for the redesign is coming from.
The Town of Leesburg has heard multiple concerns from citizens surrounding Ion, but public information officer Kara Rodriguez said while the town is "empathetic" toward the situation, the government is tied with Ion being a privately-owned business.
While Setayesh's latest statement has led to a loss of hope for several members of the community, others are hoping that the rink can somehow be saved. Whether that's through a sale or other means remains to be seen, the Loudoun Knights and Washington Little Caps know just how much it means to their future and at the same time, their hockey aspirations.
The Little Caps have paved the way for several pro players from the area, including Joe Snively and Ryan Leibold.