Christian Heritage Academy’s Academy senior Josey Dunne’s had hockey in her blood since she was a young child. With three older siblings gone on to play NCAA Division I college hockey, the dream of playing at the next level has been at the top of mind for Dunne, who is one of six hockey-playing kids and hails from O’Fallon, Missouri.

“I started on the ice as a figure skater, but then I went to one of my brothers hockey games and thought that ‘they get to hit, they get to shoot? That’s a lot more fun than picking up teddy bears,’” she said. “When I saw my older sister play at Ohio State I thought ‘wow she can do that.’ And I think we have a competitive family so that pushed me to a mindset that that’s what I want to do and what I can do.”

Her dream became a reality after her sophomore year when she committed to the University of Minnesota, the second-ranked team in women’s college hockey.

“I chose Minnesota for a combination of both the academics and the athletics,” she said. “It’s a Big Ten school and both of my sisters went to Ohio State, so I was really intrigued by a Big Ten school.

“One thing that really stood out for me was the AIC (Athletes in Christ) in Minnesota. Minnesota is one of the largest in the country and faith is really important to me, so finding out that at least 15 girls were Christian and all three coaches were Christian was a really big part in my decision.”

Dunne’s path to becoming a college athlete is a different one than many in the area. As previously mentioned, Dunne is originally from Missouri, transferring to the Chicago area her freshman year of high school when she made the Chicago Mission, a local travel hockey club.

After looking at some options, she decided to attend Christian Heritage, while playing for the Mission’s hockey program so she could better prepare and hone her hockey skills.

But that meant moving away from her family at the mere age of 14.

“It was definitely difficult, each day had its pros and cons,” Dunne said. “I think at 14, that’s a young age to be away but I’ve always been one to learn on how to adjust.

“This whole process of moving away has helped me mature a lot faster. It’s helped me become a lot more independent and organized, especially since all the families I’ve lived with have run their households differently.”

A sibling leaving the house at a young age wasn’t an uncommon thing in the Dunne household, however.

Josey’s brother Joshua moved to Green Bay to play in the USHL around that age and one of her older sisters, Jincy, played with the U.S. Women’s National Team, making her debut with the team at the age of 15.

“We sent her as a freshman up here to play with the Mission because the St. Louis program at the time was a little unstable,” Josey’s dad, Tom, said. “We knew Mission was a good program, we tried it, we stayed with it, it’s a great program and they’ve treated her really well.

“You only have your kids once, but in that time away, they grow and mature, maybe a little quicker than they would living at home. You still miss them but you realize the big picture, their dreams, going to college.”

What makes the Dunne’s family hockey success even greater is that neither of the parents played, or even could skate.

“We put our kids in all kinds of sports growing up,” Tom Dunne said. “Neither her mom nor I have a hockey background. We had no idea we’d be sitting here with what we’ve got. The good Lord had a plan for them and they got the sport of hockey, loved it and it’s opened so many doors and opportunities.

“The experiences, trips, friends you make along the way, as well as the opportunity to get an education, we’ve been pretty fortunate.”

Like a couple of her siblings, Dunne has always been more of a defensive player, a position she’s learned to love. While scoring goals is always fun and there’s something special about it, being the last line of defense before the goalie is something she really relishes.

Dunne, who during her time in Chicago has lived with three different host families in Winnetka, Barrington and River Forest, knows that playing time during her freshman season won’t be a given.

But it’s something that can easily be achievable.

“It all depends on how hard you’re willing to work,” she said. “I’m going in with another girl and there will be five d(efensemen) next year and typically you’ll dress six or seven, so we’ll both be competing for a spot.

“But as a freshman, you’ve got to work your way up and prove yourself. They said to expect some ice time, but you’ve got to earn that ice time.”