Boise, ID (9/6/16) – The Idaho Steelheads have brought back their leading scorer from the 2015-16 season, as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Neil Graham announced Tuesday afternoon that the team has agreed to terms with Rob Linsmayer on an ECHL contract.
Linsmayer, 26, returns for his fourth full season in Idaho after setting career-highs in goals, assists, and points a season ago. The Winnetka, Illinois native totaled 36 assists and 57 points to lead the team, with his 21 goals ranked third. Linsmayer’s plus-22 rating was second on the team to Corbin Baldwin’s plus-28 rating.
“We’re very excited to have Rob returning to Boise,” said Graham. “He is a huge part of our team and community, and he’s a very consistent player every night who works hard and leads by example.”
Linsmayer recorded four multi-goal games last season and netted his first professional hat-trick on March 25th against the Colorado Eagles. His goal just nine seconds into the first period against the Tulsa Oilers on January 16th matched a team record for fastest goal scored in a game, set by Jan Kopecky in 2004.
In 135 career regular-season games with the Steelheads, Linsmayer has netted 40 goals and 96 points, as well as three goals and eight points in 16 playoff games. Linsmayer enters the 2016-17 season two points shy of 100 for his professional career, and his 96 points in Idaho currently place him 12th on the Steelheads’ all-time scoring list (ECHL era).
“He’s a guy I can lean on in any situation, and I expect him to build on his success from last season,” said Graham.
Linsmayer has played for just one other organization in his professional career, dressing for 11 games and scoring two goals with the San Francisco Bulls at the start of the 2013-14 season before returning to Idaho. Prior to his pro career, the 5-foot-11 forward played four seasons at Holy Cross College, scoring 31 goals and 100 points.