Defenseman will start at CC in 2019-20

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Brady Smith, who will start his Division 1 NCAA hockey career next season at Colorado College. 

Brady, from Bloomington, IL, is now with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. He is a powerful, smooth skater known for his puck movement and strong shot.

(Click to see all Bridgedale's college commitments.)

Brady recently de-committed from the University of Wisconsin where he'd originally intended to go, committing while still only an 9th grader at Bridgedale.

Defenseman now starring for Saginaw in OHL

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Bode Wilde, who has agreed to terms with the New York Islanders (NHL) for a 3-year entry level contract. 

Bode, originally from Montreal, now plays with the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League. Bode is a skilled, smooth-skating defenseman who brings offensive punch to his game.

(Click here to see Bridgedale's college commitments.)

Bode was drafted in the 2d round of last year's NHL draft and has been distinguishing himself with the Spirit, scoring at a point-per-game pace this season in the OHL.

Going to the Ivy League

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Zakary Karpa on his verbal commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at Princeton University. 

This season Zak competes for the Honeybaked Hockey U16 team. A highly skilled forward who has also skated with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program U17s this season, Zak is the 16th Bridgedale grad to have earned his D1 commitment.

(Click to see all Bridgedale's college commitments.)

Zak was also a 4.0 Honors student during his two years at Bridgedale Academy.

"Honeybaked Hockey is thrilled that Zak has made his college commitment to Princeton University," says Bill Warren, Zak's coach at the Honeybaked U16 team. "Not only are the Tigers getting a solid two-way player who has the ability to make his teammates around him better, they are getting an Honor student athlete who has done a remarkable job of balancing education and hockey."

On a Hockey Scholarship

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Dominick Rivelli on his verbal commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at Miami University of Ohio. 

This season Dominick competes for the Chicago Mission U15 team. He is a versatile forward and becomes the 15th Bridgedale grad to have earned his D1 scholarship.

(Click to see all Bridgedale's college commitments.)

Dominick was also a 4.0 Honors student during his two years at Bridgedale Academy.

"Dom is relentless in pursuit of the puck and you can usually find it on his stick," says Gino Cavallini, Dom's coach at the Chicago Mission U15 team. "He is the type of player coaches can rely on in any situation. With an above average hockey IQ, Dom plays with an edge every shift while his speed affords him many opportunities."

Toughest Position in Team Sports

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Nothing compares physically, mentally and emotionally

I've never been a goalie.

In fact, I don't think I've ever even put on the pads.

Nonetheless, I believe that hockey goalie is the toughest position in all of team sports. So here's my very unscientific analysis of why it's so hard to be a goalie.

Value to the team is only a part of it

I've coached hockey for many years and understand the value that an elite goaltender brings to a team.

Put simply: You can't win a championship without a championship-caliber goaltender.

But other sports have positions that will have a similar value to a team. No team wins in football without an exceptional quarterback. Championship baseball teams need world-class pitching.

So it has to be more than just that.

On a Hockey Scholarship

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Bridgedale Academy grad Davis Burnside has given his verbal commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at The Ohio State University. 

Davis, an outstanding forward who is now playing for the Chicago Mission U15 team, becomes the 14th Bridgedale grad to have earned his D1 scholarship.

(Click to see all Bridgedale's college commitments.)

He was also an Honor Roll student at Bridgedale.

"Davis, a forward, has elite level speed who is a threat to score anytime the puck is on his stick," says Gino Cavallini, coach of the Chicago Mission U15 team for which Davis now competes. "His stride and ability to generate this kind of speed almost always catches the opposing defenders on their heels. His speed sets him apart; his ability to play 200 feet is why he is coveted."

Beloved son of Bridgedale's Mike McPartlin

The entire Bridgedale Academy Family is extremely saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Nicholas "Nick" Marlowe, son of Bridgedale Headmaster Mike McPartlin.

Every Year Parents Scramble to get their sons in Hockey Camps

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Isn't there a better way?

Every summer, hundreds of hockey camps are operating all over North America. And no matter what skills your hockey-playing child needs to work on, there are camps out there for you.

There are camps for speed, camps for stick handling, camps for shooting, camps for checking, camps for “power” skating, camps for defensemen, etc. 

Most of these camps are week-long camps, and with each camp comes the promise of positive results.

So my question is: If positive results can come from attending a 1-week hockey camp, what kind of results could you expect from 37 weeks of hockey camp?

On a Hockey Scholarship

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Bridgedale Academy grad Josh Lopina has given his verbal commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at UMass Amherst. 

Josh is an outstanding forward who recently won a USA Hockey National Championship as a member of the Chicago Mission's U16 team. Josh becomes the 13th Bridgedale grad to earn his D1 scholarship, and the first to commit to UMass.

(Click to see all Bridgedale's college commitments.)

Josh, who will compete in junior hockey this season for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League, was also a High Honors student at Bridgedale.

"Josh has good hockey sense in addition to his strong athletic abilities," says Anders Sorensen, Josh's coach at the Chicago Mission U16s last season. "He possesses a very strong two-way game combined with a great compete level."

"The more competitive the game becomes, the more Josh excels," added Sorensen.

Creativity might come from thinking outside the box, but fundamentals come from thinking inside it

By Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy