by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Mrs. Kuhl's Speech at Year-End Awards Ceremony!

At the conclusion of each Bridgedale Academy school year, our graduating 8th graders take center stage. In addition to announcing where they will attend high school and presenting their moms with a rose, each boy recites from memory a speech or poem.

Each year the boys do a wonderful job with their recitations, no small feat considering that, in addition to our entire student body and teaching staff being there, parents, grandparents and siblings are also in attendance. This year we had more than 200 attendees.

One reason the boys do so well is Mrs. Janene Kuhl, who has taught the English Language Arts to Bridgedale's 8th graders since our founding in 2013 and who prepares the boys so well for their public speaking engagement.

This year after the boys had once again nailed their recitations, Mrs. Kuhl gave her own speech, using the acronym STEAL to talk about the life lessons that can be learned from the novels and short stories the boys read each year in her class.

Her stirring speech received a thunderous ovation. You can read it here, or by clicking this blog article's title above to continue reading.

Illinois Wins America's Showcase - St. Louis

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Nick Delaney and his Illinois Showcase Team Black teammates for their championship at the prestigious America's Showcase in St. Louis.

The tournament is an opportunity for the top high school players in Illinois to compete against teams from all over and be scouted by colleges and junior teams.

Nick, a right-shooting forward, led the tournament in scoring with 7 goals and 12 assists for 19 points in six games.

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Two Years in a Row with a Bridgedale Grad Winning!

Earlier this month, Bridgedale grads Sean Behrens and Jack Devine and their Denver University teammates beat Minnesota State to win the NCAA Division 1 National Championship.

It was the ninth national championship for the Pioneers, tying for the most all time and capping off another amazing DU hockey season.

Both Sean (#2) and Jack (#4) are true freshmen, having played together the last two years at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

And this makes it two years in a row that a Bridgedale grad has hoisted the Championship trophy. Last year, Bridgedale grad Josh Lopina did it with UMass.

To win it all, DU had to beat a dominant Minnesota State University team with another Bridgedale connection, as their Hobey Baker winning goalie Dryden McKay is the son of Bridgedale goalie instructor Ross McKay.

On a Hockey Scholarship

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Dashel Oliver on his commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. 

This season Dashel is splitting his time between the North Jersey Avalanche U16s and the Lincoln Stars who selected Dashel in the 2nd round of the 2021 USHL draft, the league's 19th overall pick.

Dashel grew up in Indiana, playing his youth hockey in Bloomington before joining the Chicago Mission where he played 3 seasons. He also represented the USA in the prestigious Five Nations Cup in Switzerland last August, serving as team Captain in 2 of the games.

A fast, right-handed shooting forward, Dashel is the 23rd Bridgedale Academy grad to earn his D1 scholarship.

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

“Dashel was a big part of our Mission 05 team for many years,” said Yanic Perreault, Dashel's coach at the Mission. "He's a great skater with a really good motor."

"He always puts in the efforts when he comes to the rink," added Perreault. "He commits himself to be better every day."

On a Hockey Scholarship

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Mikey DeAngelo on his verbal commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at Arizona State University. This season Mikey (still only 16 years old at this writing) is playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL.

Last season Mikey started with the Chicago Mission U16 team before being called up to USA Hockey's NTDP. He also represented the USA in the prestigious Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Czech and Slovakia last August, where his 7 points in 4 games led the team.

A skilled, left-handed shooting forward, Mikey becomes the 22nd Bridgedale Academy grad to have earned his D1 scholarship.

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

“Mikey's speed and skills at speed are both excellent,” said Gino Cavallini, Mikey's coach the last two seasons at the Mission, "and he plays a complete 200 foot game. Last season he really came into his own. It was a joy watching him take his game to the next level."

"Mikey respects what it takes to become a great player," added Cavallini. "He's super coachable and respects the process. To me he's like a combination of the skill of (Bridgedale grad) Matty de St. Phalle and the all-around game of Owen Lindmark."

That's high praise from Coach Cavallini as both Lindmark and de St. Phalle now star for the University of Wisconsin.

Playing for MAC Budapest

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Kaden Varga on beginning his professional hockey career with MAC Budapest in the Hungarian Erste Liga. 

Kaden, an offensive defenseman whose grandfather is former long-time Chicago Blackhawks equipment manager Lou Varga, has taken an unusual path to get where he is now.

After a fine youth career in Illinois, Kaden played prep hockey in Connecticut before a stint in the NAHL with the Jamestown (NY) Rebels that got cut short by the COVID shortened season.

He spent a season in Florida with the Everblades in the USPHL Premier league. This was a step down from the NAHL but it proved to be the perfect opportunity for him, not only because hockey was still being played in Florida, but also because he received plenty of playing time.

That's when his opportunity to play professionally in Europe came about.

On a Hockey Scholarship

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

We are proud to congratulate Bridgedale Academy grad Zack Sharp on his verbal commitment to play his Division 1 NCAA hockey at Western Michigan University. 

This season Zack competes for the Chicago Mission U16 team. He is also likely to see time in the USHL this season, having been selected by the Souix Falls Stampede in the second round, the 17th pick overall. A talented offensive-minded defenseman, Zack becomes the 21st Bridgedale grad to have earned his D1 scholarship.

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

Zack attended Bridgedale Academy for two years, making huge strides and developing not only athletically and as a hockey player, but also as a student during his time at Bridgedale.

"Zack has been a big part of our Mission team over the last few years," says Yanic Perreault, Zack's coach the last two seasons at the Chicago Mission. "He has great offensive instincts, tremendous speed and a really good shot."

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

Seven Bridgedale Grads and Counting

Bridgedale Academy grads Sean Behrens and Josh Lopina were recently selected in the 2021 National Hockey League Draft. This makes four years of Bridgedale grads (00s, 01s, 02s and 03s) to have been drafted over the last four NHL drafts, bringing the Bridgedale total to seven.

Sean was selected in the Second Round (#61 Overall) by the Colorado Avalanche, and Josh in the Fourth Round (#98 Overall) by the Anaheim Ducks.

Sean spent the last two seasons with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and will suit up for the University of Denver in the fall.

Josh had a season for the ages last season as a freshman at UMass. First he captured the Hockey East Rookie of the Year honors and then capped things off with UMass's first-ever Division 1 NCAA National Championship. 

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

A Man of Many Firsts

Last Saturday, Bridgedale Academy grad Josh Lopina and his UMass teammates defeated St. Cloud State to win the NCAA Division 1 National Championship.

It was the first-ever national championship for the Minutemen, capping off an amazing season.

And Josh, as the team's second line center and top face-off man, was a major contributing factor in the team's unprecedented success.

And all this in his first season as a freshman with the team.

But by now Josh is used to being "first."

Visit and do some Classroom Observations

by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy

For obvious reasons, Bridgedale will not be hosting any Open Houses this winter.

Instead, we are offering Private Showings for interested families.

Your Own Private Open House Showing

And so we cordially invite you to have your own “Private Open House.” 

Take a break from the stress of your son’s e-learning and come to Bridgedale on a day of your choosing.

See first-hand what makes Bridgedale the perfect option for the serious student hockey-player.