Linhart played a couple of seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL where he began to really find his game. In his second season there, Linhart posted two goals and 18 assists in 58 games. From there, he made the jump to college where he signed on with the University of Wisconsin Badgers where he had four very productive seasons, ending his career with 15 goals and 45 assists in 142 NCAA games. Again, those numbers are pretty solid for playing in one of the most competitive collegiate conferences in the Big 10.
Linhart's professional journey say him sign on with the ECHL's Adirondack Thunder in 2018-19 where he scored eight goals and 22 assists in 60 games, and that performance with the Thunder prompted the AHL's Hershey Bears to sign him to a PTO for five games where he scored one assist against AHL competition. He'd return to Adirondack the following season where he added another five goals and 18 assists in 51 games, making him the highest scoring Thunder defender over those two seasons with 13 goals and 40 assists in 111 games.
It seems pretty clear that Iowa, being closer to Wisconsin where Linhart was born, had some interest from the player when it comes to having friends and family see him play moe regularly, so the Iowa offer was the one he chose. Iowa, for their part, recognized that Linhart can play the game at a high level in the ECHL, and they needed to add a quality player to their lineup to as they begin building for a bright future.
"This is so close to home. It's right in the Midwest, where I grew up," Linhart told Jeff Johnson of The Gazette. "I played my junior hockey in Green Bay, then my college in Madison, so just the location aspect of it really appealed to me. So that was the major reason I decided to come to Coralville.
"I've already met and talked to so many people in the organization. Everything seems amazing. It's super exciting to be the first player announced in the program's history. I just want to do my part and build something."
I mentione at the top of the article that a specific moment in life may have brought Jake closer to home. Linhart was diagnosed with testicular cancer two years ago. After having defeated the disease with no recurrences, there was a cancer scare with his sister and his mother's battle with breast cancer that has really made family an important part of Linhart's journey.
"Don't take anything for granted. There are other things more important outside hockey, for sure," Linhart said. "That's what I’ve learned from it. Family is the most important thing to have. To have a couple of people in my family go through it, to have my mom go through it again, it's not only a physical battle, but it's a mental battle as well. I guess just talking through it and being there for each other, that's what I'm trying to do for my mom, especially. They did that for me as well when I was going through my thing."
Sometimes, the business of hockey sucks the happiness out of the game, but seeing Jake Linhart sign with Iowa to be closer to his family when they need him is a heartwarming story that goes beyond "the first player ever signed". Count me in as a fan of Jake Linhart this season and beyond because I appreciate that Jake's own battle with cancer has changed his focus when it comes to hockey. While he's an exceptional player based on his work in Adirondack, sometimes there are things more important than statistics and scores.
Moving closer to home so he can be there for his mom and his family is an incredible reason to sign with Iowa, and that should be the story. Yes, he's the first player to sign, but the "why" he signed with Iowa is far more important than the entry into the ECHL and Iowa Heartlanders record books.
Good on you, Jake, and here's hoping you have a monster season this year for following your heart and doing the right thing for you.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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