On Mission U16 Title Team
by Mike McPartlin, Headmaster, Bridgedale Academy
Bridgedale Academy grad Josh Lopina became a USA Hockey National Champion this week.
Josh is a 2001 birth year player who played on the same Chicago Mission U16 team as Bridgedale grad Wyatt Schingoethe and present Bridgedale student Jacob Perreault.
The Mission U16s defeated the Team Wisconsin U16s in the USAH National Finals on Tuesday in Philadelphia, PA. They earned six straight tournament wins en route to the title, including victories over Little Caesars, Boston Jr. Eagles and Oakland Jr. Grizzlies, powerhouses all.
"Josh attended Bridgedale for three years, graduating from 9th grade two years ago,” said Bridgedale Headmaster Mike McPartlin. "He has been with the Chicago Mission organization since he was a second year Squirt."
“Josh was actually the very first Bridgedale Academy student,” noted McPartlin. “His dad Bill was the very first Bridgedale parent to enroll his son at Bridgedale, prior to our even opening our doors.
"In addition to being an outstanding hockey player, Josh is an excellent student and wonderful young man. Obviously we are very proud of Josh and excited for what his future holds.”
Congratulations to Josh (and his parents Bill and Pam) on his outstanding achievement.
Bridgedale Academy is an all-boys school for athletes, a prep school for serious youth hockey players. We will offer grades 5 through 8 in the 2018-19 school year. In addition to our winning combination of sports and academics, we focus on leadership training. We use a classical academic curriculum and our graduates go on to attend some of the most prestigious high schools in the midwest, including Lake Forest Academy, Culver Military Academy, Shattuck St. Mary’s, Northwood School, Benet Academy, Fenwick Prep, St. Ignatius Prep, Latin School and Providence Catholic. We pride ourselves on being the top youth hockey prep school in the nation. Eleven (11) of our former or current students have already received their NCAA Division 1 college hockey commitments. Three (3) of our former students competed for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program and will begin their college playing careers in 2018-19, two at Notre Dame and one at Michigan.