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Minnesota Lands Two B1G Stars in Final Week
2/28/2023 1:00:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Koster, Close honored by the league
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Mike Koster and Justen Close from the University of Minnesota men's hockey team helped the nation's top team to a home sweep over the weekend and were rewarded as the Big Ten Conference Second and Third Star of the Week, respectively.
Koster had a career day Friday night leading the Golden Gophers to a 4-0 shutout of No. 8/7 Ohio State as he had two goals and two assists on the way to his first B1G weekly award. The Chaska, Minn., native accounted for a point on all four second-period tallies from the blue line. It was his first-ever outing with four points and became just the second player for Minnesota to have a four-point game this season.
Playing in the 100th game of his career with the Maroon and Gold, Koster made it a milestone night as he scored multiple goals for the first time, recording his fourth and fifth of the year. With that effort, the junior pushed his career-best point total to 23, having recorded 12 points over an 11-game stretch to close the regular season.
Close was brilliant in goal, leading Minnesota to another sweep of a top-10 program, earning his fourth weekly honor from the Big Ten Conference. He allowed just two goals, both of which came during a 5-on-3 power play Saturday and finished the week with a 1.00 goals against average and a .962 save percentage. The senior recorded his B1G-leading sixth shutout of the season Friday stopping all 23 shots and moved into seventh in program history with his ninth career shutout.
The Kindersley, Saskatchewan, native, ended the weekend on Senior Night by making 28 saves as his GAA for the year dropped to 1.99 and ranks fifth nationally. The Mike Richter Award semifinalist picked up his 22nd win of the season Saturday, which sits second in the NCAA.
Minnesota has totaled a league-best 16 Star of the Week accolades from the B1G this season, coming from eight different players.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2023 Big Ten Conference Tournament with the Gophers entering the postseason as the regular season champion and top seed. Minnesota earned a bye into the semifinals and will host a team to be determined March 11 at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Click here for B1G Tournament tickets.
Koster had a career day Friday night leading the Golden Gophers to a 4-0 shutout of No. 8/7 Ohio State as he had two goals and two assists on the way to his first B1G weekly award. The Chaska, Minn., native accounted for a point on all four second-period tallies from the blue line. It was his first-ever outing with four points and became just the second player for Minnesota to have a four-point game this season.
Playing in the 100th game of his career with the Maroon and Gold, Koster made it a milestone night as he scored multiple goals for the first time, recording his fourth and fifth of the year. With that effort, the junior pushed his career-best point total to 23, having recorded 12 points over an 11-game stretch to close the regular season.
Close was brilliant in goal, leading Minnesota to another sweep of a top-10 program, earning his fourth weekly honor from the Big Ten Conference. He allowed just two goals, both of which came during a 5-on-3 power play Saturday and finished the week with a 1.00 goals against average and a .962 save percentage. The senior recorded his B1G-leading sixth shutout of the season Friday stopping all 23 shots and moved into seventh in program history with his ninth career shutout.
The Kindersley, Saskatchewan, native, ended the weekend on Senior Night by making 28 saves as his GAA for the year dropped to 1.99 and ranks fifth nationally. The Mike Richter Award semifinalist picked up his 22nd win of the season Saturday, which sits second in the NCAA.
Minnesota has totaled a league-best 16 Star of the Week accolades from the B1G this season, coming from eight different players.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2023 Big Ten Conference Tournament with the Gophers entering the postseason as the regular season champion and top seed. Minnesota earned a bye into the semifinals and will host a team to be determined March 11 at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Click here for B1G Tournament tickets.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Michigan 4
Friday, February 27
Highlights: Gophers 4, Michigan 2
Thursday, February 26
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 3
Saturday, February 14
Highlights: Gophers 2, Notre Dame 2
Friday, February 13