Education
Linnell attended University of Alaska Fairbanks where he played National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I hockey with the Alaska Nanooks.
Linnell attended University of Alaska Fairbanks where he played National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I hockey with the Alaska Nanooks.
In February 1992 he was forced to leave the team after it was found he was in violation of National Collegiate Athletic Association rules by playing while in his sixth year of college. Linnell began his professional career with the 1992-1993 season, playing three seasons with the ECHL team, before jumping to the West Coast Hockey League to play the 1995-1996 season with the Alaska Gold Kings.