Defenseman Jake Levin is hitting his stride.

Paired with fellow sophomore Alex Mehnert most of the time, Levin already has eclipsed his freshman point total and has played in every game thus far for Air Force this season. He took some time recently to chat with AFAFlightPath.com about his background, life at the Academy and some of his teammates’ more interesting attributes.

Jake, your play has really picked up of late. Has there been anything that has helped you in Year 2 of college hockey?

I think just experience. Last year, I played half of the games. I probably have a full season under my belt now (43 games). Every team has tendencies, and after a year you sort of know what to expect. Experience definitely plays a bit role in that.

You and Alex Mehnert seem to have really developed some chemistry playing together this season, why is that? 

We’re buddies from before hockey started our freshman year. We admired each other’s play. We get along pretty well off the ice. It’s pretty easy to transition that to the ice. After a year it’s really working between us.

Have you always played defenseman?

Growing up you play every position. Probably around 13 or 14 I stuck to defense.

Do you have any family with military background?

My grandpa’s, one was a dentist in the Army and the other worked on the financial side in the Army. No one in the Air Force. It was more just the coaching staff and the recruiting process that brought me here.

What were the main appeals of the Academy?

The people here are amazing. I don’t think you can find it anywhere else. They’re above all else. It’s incredible what the support staff will go through to make you feel at home and welcomed to make sure you thrive here.

What are you studying?

I’m a chemical engineering major. There’s all the engineering fields and options with that. I haven’t ruled out pilot school yet. I’m keeping my options open as junior year rolls around.

When you were growing up, who were some of your big hockey influences?

My parents. My mom was a figure skater. I think she had me on the ice when I was 2 or 3. I remember going to outdoor rinks growing up and community rinks. We always had a season pass. That really paved the way for me to get here.

Do you have any favorite memories of skating from that time?

I remember going to a little community rink, and I didn’t know it at the time, but we met Bill Gates. We were living in Washington at the time. That was my one story from outdoor skating.

Was there a team you cheered for growing up?

I grew up in Washington, so there wasn’t a ton of it. Once we moved to Wisconsin, the Blackhawks were a team that was easy to cheer for back then. There’s that rivalry between Illinois and Wisconsin, but that didn’t steer me away from being a Blackhawks fan.

 Was there a player you looked up to?

Duncan Keith is so much fun to watch, the way he moves the puck. And he’s a terrific skater. You always notice when he’s out there. It’s fun to watch him control the game.

Do you have a favorite road trip with the team?

Most of them are pretty good. I enjoyed Niagara. The scenery up there is beautiful. New York City is always fun. There’s really not a bad spot.

What is the breakfast of champions?

I keep it light because we have a big pregame meal. I’ll grab a yogurt, some fruit, maybe some cereal. If there’s eggs I might have some. But I’m not pounding eight eggs with Cholula sauce all over them (as his roommate Zack Mirageas favors to start his day) and golfing down waffles and what not.

Is there a comedian on the team who stands out?

Yeah, Brady Tomlak. He’s always got something to say. He’s a junior so we’re pretty close. We spend a lot of time outside the rink. He’s always making the boys laugh. If you ever need to be cheered up, just go find Tomlak. I’m sure he’ll have something funny to tell you.

If you had a teammate running for a political office, who would you endorse?

Probably Pierce Pluemer. He’s so level-headed. He’s a trustworthy person, so I’d endorse him.

If Frank was a super hero, which one do you think he’d be?

Probably, the one that runs around all the time, The Flash. He’s never tired. He’s got unlimited energy. He’s always running around.

What’s your favorite part about life at the Academy?

Hockey. You probably hear that one a lot, but when you get down to the rink you don’t have to think about homework or teachers or anything like that. You’re with the guys and you get to do what you enjoy.

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