University of Minnesota Athletics
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Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Eric Miller
Close Named to 2024 Mike Richter Award Watch List
1/12/2024 1:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Third-straight year for the netminder
MINNEAPOLIS - Justen Close from the Golden Gophers men's hockey team was one of 32 goaltenders named to the 2024 Mike Richter Award "Watch List", given annually to the top goalie in men's NCAA Division I hockey since 2014, it was announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Friday.
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Close has been a semifinalist for the honor each of the previous two seasons and currently has a 10-6-4 record with the Maroon and Gold behind a 2.66 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Since taking over the starting role in January 2022, the graduate student owns career marks of a 2.21 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage leading to a 50-21-5 record.
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A native of Kindersley, Saskatchewan, he has 11 shutouts in his career with two this season and sits two shy of the program record of 13 held by Kellen Briggs and Adam Wilcox. Close became the 13th goaltender in program history to reach 50 career victories during a home win over Colorado College (Jan. 8) and was the first to reach the milestone since Eric Schierhorn on Nov. 4, 2017.
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Close graduated from the Carlson School of Management in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and is now pursuing a master's degree in Sports Management.
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The 32 goalies come from the United States (19), Canada (7), and Sweden (5) and Slovakia (1). Of the U.S. goalies, Minnesota leads the way with four, followed by three each from Michigan and Pennsylvania. There are three freshmen, five sophomores, five juniors, 14 seniors and five graduate students among those recognized.
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A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts, and media — will pare this list down to approximately 15 names within the next three weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. A similar award to recognize the top female goalie in the NCAA is also presented by the HCA.
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Past Richter Award Recipients: 2014 - Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell; 2015 - Zane McIntyre, North Dakota; 2016 - Thatcher Demko, Boston College; 2017 - Tanner Jaillet, Denver; 2018 - Cale Morris, Notre Dame; 2019 - Cayden Primeau, Northeastern; 2020 - Jeremy Swayman, Maine; 2021 - Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota; 2022 - Devon Levi, Northeastern; 2023 - Devon Levi, Northeastern.
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Close has been a semifinalist for the honor each of the previous two seasons and currently has a 10-6-4 record with the Maroon and Gold behind a 2.66 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. Since taking over the starting role in January 2022, the graduate student owns career marks of a 2.21 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage leading to a 50-21-5 record.
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A native of Kindersley, Saskatchewan, he has 11 shutouts in his career with two this season and sits two shy of the program record of 13 held by Kellen Briggs and Adam Wilcox. Close became the 13th goaltender in program history to reach 50 career victories during a home win over Colorado College (Jan. 8) and was the first to reach the milestone since Eric Schierhorn on Nov. 4, 2017.
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Close graduated from the Carlson School of Management in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Business degree majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and is now pursuing a master's degree in Sports Management.
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The 32 goalies come from the United States (19), Canada (7), and Sweden (5) and Slovakia (1). Of the U.S. goalies, Minnesota leads the way with four, followed by three each from Michigan and Pennsylvania. There are three freshmen, five sophomores, five juniors, 14 seniors and five graduate students among those recognized.
Â
A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, scouts, and media — will pare this list down to approximately 15 names within the next three weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in April during the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. A similar award to recognize the top female goalie in the NCAA is also presented by the HCA.
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Past Richter Award Recipients: 2014 - Connor Hellebuyck, UMass Lowell; 2015 - Zane McIntyre, North Dakota; 2016 - Thatcher Demko, Boston College; 2017 - Tanner Jaillet, Denver; 2018 - Cale Morris, Notre Dame; 2019 - Cayden Primeau, Northeastern; 2020 - Jeremy Swayman, Maine; 2021 - Jack LaFontaine, Minnesota; 2022 - Devon Levi, Northeastern; 2023 - Devon Levi, Northeastern.
Highlights: Gophers 1, UMD 4
Saturday, October 25
Highlights: Gophers 0, UMD 3
Friday, October 24
Highlights: Gophers 5, North Dakota 1
Saturday, October 18
Highlights: Gophers 2, North Dakota 5
Friday, October 17