Ion Training Center to Launch Hockey Academy
This article was originally published by Loudoun Now on February 20, 2026. The original reporting by can be found here.
Ion International Training Center is partnering with Total Package Hockey to create a new academy in Leesburg. Managing Partner and Academy Director Craig Desjarlais said the program will fill a niche for youth hockey in Virginia.
With construction slated for the beginning of March, Ion plans to renovate part of its building to serve as educational classrooms for grades six through 12. According to TPH’s team model, the academy seeks to provide an environment where students can study, train and play. It also intends to address concerns about students missing school days to participate in sports.
This academy is kind of what we consider the missing piece for a lot of hockey players in this region,” Desjarlais said. “There are a lot of kids that leave here to pursue opportunities like this elsewhere, and we lose a lot of our top talented players in this region by the time they become 14,15,16 years old.”
TPH Virginia will become the national organization’s 21st academy in North America, according to Desjarlais.
The student schedule is meant to be customizable and provide structure. Desjarlais said throughout the year students receive around 180 hours of sports performance training and 720 hours of academics.
The academy also includes a success coach who works one-on-one with students. The curriculum blends courseware with options for individualized instruction. A mentorship program tracks personal development and executive functioning skills.
According to the TPH Academy Model, 75% of student athletes make honor roll and the average GPA is 3.7.
“I’ve been around this sport my entire life and I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” Desjarlais said. “This is unique in the fact that it’s catered toward all hockey players that are driven to become better and to achieve their goals and try to get to the next level.”
The program was introduced during a Feb. 11 open house at Ion International Training Center. Desjarlais said the room was packed, and that a handful of players have already committed for the next school year.
Desjarlais said he appreciates his partner, Director Doug Shepard, and the management at Ion for embracing the academy.
“They’re making great sacrifices with the space in the building to accommodate this,” he said.
Learn more at tphacademy.com/virginia.
