Burnside, Haskins, Rivelli, Silich & Williams Make their Mark

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy 

Bridgedale Academy is extremely proud to congratulate 5 of its graduates who were recently drafted in Phase 1 of the USHL Draft. The five, Davis Burnside, Tyler Haskins, Dominick Rivelli, Jack Silich and Gunnar Williams, are all 2003 birth year student-athletes. 

“This was an outstanding group,” said Bridgedale Headmaster Mike McPartlin. “They were sponges in the sense that they were open to input, and willing to make changes to improve. We saw it in their dedication, focus and maturity - as athletes for sure, but also academically and as young men of character. We are very proud of them and their successes.” 

Davis Burnside

Davis signed as a tender with the Tri-City Storm, effectively becoming their 1st Round pick. Davis is verbally committed to the Ohio State University.

"Investing in Bridgedale helped Davis immensely. He loved the experience and misses it every day, the whole thing, the academics, the peer group mindset. No doubt - Bridgedale had a huge impact getting him to where he is today.”

Brad Burnside, Davis's Dad 

Many Reasons to Stay Positive

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Advice from Coaches who Get it

A while back we interviewed head coaches from each of the four Illinois Tier 1 AAA organizations. The main question we asked was: what is the best advice they can offer to parents during AAA tryout season.

They said there were the 7 primary things to keep in mind.

Now 7 Bridgedale grads with NTDP ties

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate three (3) Bridgedale Academy graduates who have been chosen to compete for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP) for the 2019-20 season. 

The announcement that Sean Behrens, Jack Devine and Colby Saganiuk had been selected to be on next season's Under-17 team makes it seven (7) Bridgedale Academy grads who will have played for the NTDP.

They will etch their names alongside the likes of Jacob Pivonka (Notre Dame), Spencer Stastney (Notre Dame), Bode Wilde (NY Islanders signee) and Zak Karpa (future Princeton) as Bridgedale grads to compete for the NTDP.

Camp takes place March 21-25, 2019

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate five (5) Bridgedale Academy graduates who have been invited to USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (NTDP) Evaluation Camp later this month. 

Getting to the Next Level

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

How can a player get to the next level?

Every year thousands of youth hockey players try out for their next season’s teams. Virtually all are trying to “get to the next level.” In Illinois the next level might be AAA, or it might be their club’s Central States or Gold level teams. In some cases it might simply be making that first travel team.

How can a youth hockey player "guarantee" his own success?

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

What kind of mindset does a player need to realize his full potential?

The burden of doing what is necessary to an athlete's development falls squarely on the shoulders of the individual athlete.

Parents indeed do play a crucial role when the athlete is younger. But ultimately it is up to the athlete to do what he must to turn his potential into reality.

To do this the athlete must develop a certain mindset.

It is a mindset that will allow the player to do those 7 key things that "must" be done, i.e. for the player to eventually realize his full potential.

And ultimately, this mindset is dependent on what I'll call a "crucial understanding."

First I'll address the 7 "keys" ... and then the crucial understanding. 

See for yourself why Bridgedale Academy is so incredible

Bridgedale Academy offers the best of both worlds to 5th thru 8th graders:

- an outstanding classical-based education

- the best on-ice and off-ice training available anywhere.

Learn more:

Boys are still being discriminated against in our education system

By Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

 
"Being a normal boy is a serious liability"

In the last few years I've written blogs about how the US public education system discriminates against boys, as girls continue to leave the boys in the dust academically and all indications are that the problem is getting worse.

I concluded at the time that it's crucial our schools get back to letting boys be boys.

But for a much more authoritative take on this serious issue, listen here to scholar Christina Hoff Sommers (PhD and author of "The War Against Boys") in this Prager U video:

At Bridgedale Academy, boys can still be boys!

Bridgedale Academy offers the best of both worlds to 5th thru 8th graders:

- an outstanding classical-based education

- the best on-ice and off-ice training available anywhere.

Learn more:

See for yourself why Bridgedale Academy is so incredible

Bridgedale Academy offers the best of both worlds to 5th thru 8th graders:

- an outstanding classical-based education

- the best on-ice and off-ice training available anywhere.

Learn more:

See for yourself why Bridgedale Academy is so incredible

Bridgedale Academy offers the best of both worlds to 5th thru 8th graders:

- an outstanding classical-based education

- the best on-ice and off-ice training available anywhere.

Learn more: