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Craig Desjarlais named as Director of the Loudoun Knights for the 2022/23 Season

By Loudoun Knights Staff, 02/15/22, 10:30PM EST

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The Loudoun Knights are pleased to announce that Craig Desjarlais will be returning as the club’s Hockey Director for the 22/23 season.

The Loudoun Knights are wrapping up their second season as an organization and saw the club grow to 12 teams while participating full time in both the CBHL and the EJEPL. The Knights also partnered with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and saw the coaching staff expand to nearly 40 coaches.

Craig brings a wealth of experience to the Loudoun Knights both as a coach and a player. Born and raised in Windsor Ontario, Craig played his youth hockey for the LaSalle Sabres before embarking on a successful Junior, Collegiate and Professional career. Craig played 3 seasons of junior hockey in the Western Jr B Hockey League for the Windsor Bulldogs and the Leamington Flyers. In 1996 Craig was awarded a full ride scholarship to play D1 college hockey for Bowling Green State University in the CCHA. Upon graduating with a business degree from BGSU in 2000, Craig played 5 years of professional hockey in the IHL, ECHL, UHL and SPHL. His longest tenure was with the Knoxville Icebears where in 2012 he was honored by being named to their all-time franchise team.

In total, Craig has over 25 years’ experience coaching and working as a skill development director for some of North America’s most prestigious academies  including Can/Am Hockey, Huron Hockey, Turcotte Hockey and Bowling Green’s Youth Development Program.


“My first year as Hockey Director with the Loudoun Knights has taught me this experience truly is about building positive relationships”, offers Desjarlais. “Youth hockey is constantly evolving and as a leadership group we embrace the challenges that come along with that. The Loudoun Knights have made tremendous steps in a very short time, and that’s all due to the coaches that dedicate countless hours to the kids, and the tremendous families that have chosen to be a part of what we are trying to build from the ground up at Ion ITC. For me personally, it’s humbling to have a platform to positively influence so many coaches, players and amazing volunteers”.

Craig owns and operates a construction company based out of Leesburg VA which brought him and his wife Bettsy to Virginia is 2005. They have two kids, Dylan (12) and Mia (11). Since arriving in Virginia, Craig has been fortunate to coach in multiple organizations within our governing body PVAHA and continues to cherish and utilize the relationships those experiences afforded him. “As Knights Director I’m able to share my lifetime of experiences in the game of hockey with our coaches, players and parents. I will always make myself available to everyone associated with the Knights program to ensure they are having a positive experience and offer support when it’s needed. I am beyond grateful for the amazing supporting cast I have alongside me, and to the countless volunteers that pour their heart into this hockey club”.

As the Loudoun Knights enter their 3 rd year of operation, the club anticipates more growth under Craig’s leadership adding more quality teams and introducing new coaches to the club. “We expect the Knights to continue to expand but we will grow with purpose”, says Desjarlais. “Our success will never be measured statistically but rather by the development and culture we are striving to build in our club.

I am not perfect, but I care, and I will listen. The core leadership group are striving to improve every aspect of the experience we can offer our coaches, players, and families. I am proud of what we have accomplished together in 2 short years and excited about next year and beyond as we evolve into an elite Tier 2 hockey club, we can all be proud to be a part of”.

Please welcome back Craig Desjarlais as the Loudoun Knights Hockey Director for the 22/23 season!