“I want to be here”: Jack Horbach’s love for Wisconsin runs deep

It's a Saturday in early December. Midway through the second period, the Wisconsin men's hockey team holds a commanding 5-1 lead over Ohio State at the Kohl Center. However, they're not done scoring yet.

With 7:20 remaining in the middle frame, senior forward Carson Bantle skates the puck around the boards of the Ohio State zone and passes behind him to graduate student forward Owen Lindmark near the back of the net. Lindmark spots sophomore forward Jack Horbach wide open in front of the goaltender and sends him a crisp pass.

Horbach rips a shot home, sending the crowd to its feet. The goal horn sounds as he skates behind the net, putting his arms up in celebration. The sophomore then grabs the front of his jersey and shakes it, showing off his white Wisconsin sweater for everyone to see.

What a shot from Jack Horbach! 🪄

🍎: Owen Lindmark & Carson Bantle pic.twitter.com/TPTz3YaAcm
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 3, 2023

The forward has adopted this 'jersey tug' celebration as his own, using his post-goal moment in the spotlight to show off his pride for the state of Wisconsin.

"Everyone's proud to be here," he said. "Everyone's proud to see what we're doing this year. It's like a taunt. I'm trying to say, 'we deserve to be here, and we're coming for you,' while I'm showing off the Wisconsin logo to everybody. I like it. I think it's kind of flashy, but it's simple at the same time where everyone gets the message."

With this kind of attitude, you'd think Horbach's a pure Wisconsinite, born and raised in the Badger State. However, the sophomore is a native of Naperville, Illinois, a city about an hour outside of Chicago.

The Horbach family's connection to Wisconsin hockey goes deeper than just Jack. His father, Bill, played a year of DIII hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 1990-91. Horbach says that sharing connections with both hockey and the UW system has helped him build a strong relationship with his father.

"This special connection has really pushed us to a new level," said the sophomore. "There's this trust there with him that goes way deeper than just hockey. I feel like I can talk to him about anything just because we've had a relationship with hockey for so long."

Horbach grew up playing for the Naperville Sabres with his dad as the coach, starting their hockey bond early. Once the forward was able to start playing AAA, he skated with the Chicago Mission for four years until his senior year of high school. That's when Horbach made the leap to the United States Hockey League (USHL), playing a year with the Madison Capitols, whose arena is just down the road from UW in Middleton, before spending a season with the Lincoln Stars due to the league's COVID dispersal draft.

Since his rights were still owned by the Capitols, he returned to Madison a year later, helping the franchise to its first Clark Cup Finals run in history.

"It was really special," said Horbach on his Clark Cup finals experience. "Going from a team that's never made the playoffs before to making a run in the finals like that was really special. All of us were staying in the moment, not really thinking too much about it because every time we'd win a game we'd be like, 'that's one more than this organization has ever done before.' It was fun to go with the flow and play our hearts out."

The Capitols ended up losing the 2021 Clark Cup to the Sioux City Musketeers in a best-of-five final series, but Horbach made the most of his time in the league.

"It was awesome to play for the Caps," he said. "I had a blast there. I thought it was really good to get my feet wet in the USHL and play a more hard, heavy role and learn to be able to play up and down the lineup. We had a bunch of fun that year because we were good, so it was great to make that run happen with those guys."

Besides making history, the forward spent his final year in the USHL getting acquainted with now-Wisconsin teammates freshman forward Quinn Finley and sophomore defenseman Ben Dexheimer.

"He's always the guy with the most energy," said Dexheimer on playing with Horbach. "He's the loudest guy in the locker room every day; he brings the energy and life all the time. He's probably been my best friend for the last three years here."

Finley adds that he loves playing with the sophomore.

"I love Horbs," he said. "I've played with him the last couple years so it's been nice to get to know him. He's a dog on the ice, he's a beast, and we all know how fun he is in the locker room. We all love him a lot."

Finley and Dexheimer aren't the only previous connections Horbach had coming into Wisconsin. Graduate student forward Owen Lindmark is also from Naperville, and the two had known of each other for almost 10 years before finally getting the chance to hit the ice at the same time.

"It's awesome," said Lindmark on getting to play with a fellow Illinois native. "It's always fun to be around another Naperville kid. It's great to go back home and hang out now: we always skate together. So, it's just really fun."

Horbach and Lindmark both attended Naperville Central High School until the graduate student left to spend his high school senior year playing for the U.S. National Development Team Program.

Despite having no previous experience playing together, the forwards have developed an on-ice connection like no other.

"We just have this weird connection where we always know where each other's gonna be," said Horbach. "It's really fun not even having to think about it. When we were in high school, I was always like 'wow, that guy's going to go play for the development program. He's really good. I wish I could've played with him.' So, it's weird that once I got here, it just kind of happened like that where we have this connection that we've never had before."

Lindmark adds: "We feed off of each other really well, especially when we kill penalties together. I love playing with him. He's a super hard player to play against. He's always getting under the other team's skin, but at the same time, I think he's a really smart player."

Horbach's teammates aren't the only ones with high praise for him as a player. Men's hockey head coach Mike Hastings is grateful to have such a talented, high-energy skater as part of this UW team.

"Jack is multi-faceted," said Coach Hastings. "I'd use the word selfless with him – he can do a lot of different things. He's killed penalties while being an energy driver on the bench, in the locker room and on the ice. He plays with a lot of pace, a lot of passion. I think he's fearless and he'll do anything you ask him to do. He's coachable, but yet he has a personality where sometimes he paints outside the lines on the rink because he is so energetic and emotional. The passion that you see him play with follows him in every part of his day."

The sophomore's passionate, selfless and determined mindset as a player matches his personality off the ice, something that Hastings says makes Horbach a true Midwesterner and an honorary Wisconsinite.

"He's got Midwestern written all over him," he said. "Jack's from Illinois, but I think the people in Wisconsin really look at him and say 'he's one of us' just because of the way he goes about his day, about his business and the type of human being that he is."

When hearing Hastings' compliments on his game and personality, Horbach's trademarked Midwestern humbleness came through as he immediately showed his appreciation for Coach's remarks.

"I would like to thank him for saying those kind words about me," said the sophomore. "I try to make an impact wherever I can, even if it's the littlest thing to get the guys going or to get me going or just try to change the tide of the game. I like being out there with the guys going to work every day, so, selfless is pretty special coming from him."

Owen Lindmark agrees that Horbach exemplifies a Midwesterner. "He's got that gritty mentality," he said. "He's very level-headed and fun to be around."

With such a strong connection to his Midwestern roots, Horbach wanted to find a university that allowed him to play college hockey while still being close to home, making UW the perfect choice.

"I know he's always wanted to come here ever since he's been a really young kid," said Ben Dexheimer on Horbach's commitment to being a Badger. "I think our fan base and how passionate they are about hockey is the reason he wanted to come here because he's a passionate player and can match their energy. I know he's loved every second of it."

Finley echoes Dexheimer's words, saying: "Horbs loves Wisconsin. He was always talking about it when we played for the Caps, being my big brother and telling me to come here. He loves being a Badger, he loves all the students, he loves the school here as well. He's always loved being here."

Horbach says that the people he met and the hobbies he picked up while playing for the Madison Capitols cemented his decision to stay in the state.

"My billet families, they were awesome," he said. "So welcoming, so wholehearted – they were always a fun time. It's a blast being here. I feel like there's never a dull moment. You can do anything you want here pretty much. There's the lake, golf, hunting, fishing… there's just so much to do. That's why I like being here, and I want to stay here."

The sophomore still has a long hockey career ahead of him, but he one day hopes to return to Wisconsin because of the strong bond he's created with the people, places and things the state has to offer.

"I would love to have a house here because it feels like I've been here for so long now," he said. "I graduated high school here during my first year with the Caps, so I feel like I've grown a connection to this state and this city. I want to be here, and I enjoy the setting with the lakes and everything, so it's fun. I'd love to return after I'm done playing."

As for now, Horbach hopes to make the most of his time in Madison and win a national championship with the Badgers.

"That's why you come to a place like this," he said. "All the history and everything behind it, the alumni, and all the good players that have come through UW. That's what I want to do here."

Coach Mike Hastings believes that this Wisconsin men's hockey crew has the potential to go far, with Horbach playing a massive part in the team's success this season.

"We're benefiting from his presence in our program," said Coach Hastings. "Those from the great state of Wisconsin should be very, very proud that he's part of this team."

University of Wisconsin Athletics

“I want to be here”: Jack Horbach’s love for Wisconsin runs deep

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